Let me first lay to rest the myth that the administration has not responded to this crisis with compassion for the suffering of others and has stood idly by. The public record shows that U.S. assistancenow valued at $222.8 millionis about 50percent more than that of all the other nations combined. Let me review for just a moment the outlines of our present assistance program for East Pakistan and for the Pakistani refugees in India: For the over 8 million refugees in India. the United States has so far contributed $77.8 million under U.N. coordination. This has gone for emergency food. clothes. vitally needed medical care. shelters. and sanitation facilities for those who crossed the borders in flight. And an important and sometimes unnoticed factor in providing such assistance is the U.S. capability for having the appropriate transport facilities to get these items in quickly or. for example. to move refugee populations closer to relief distribution centers. In short. for the refugees in India the United States responded immediately and generously with both the funds and the machinery to expedite our relief assistance. For some 70 million people in East Pakistan. the United States has committed $145 million in humanitarian relief. through the U.N. relief operation. This includes shipment of over 1 million tons of food and assistance of all kindstransport. technical advice. housing. medical supplies. and help in the distribution of relief items.
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