Speech #960146428

And if helplessness turns to insensitivity. all mankind will be the loser. For if it becomes easy to accept the death of the Khmer. eventually it must become easier to accept these circumstances as being the inevitable history of mankind. However. as we await the outcome of international efforts to reach an agreement with the Vietnambacked regime in Phnom Penh to establish a well organized and effective relief operation in Cambodia itself. much remains to be done in maximizing the effectiveness of assistance to refugees in Thailand. I am concerned that. despite all the Government of Thailand has done to ease the plight of Khmer refugees. we can do much more to assist them in this humanitarian effort. And the problems of coping with the refugee problem in Thailand is increasing as news reports now indicate that literally thousands of new refugees are streaming across the border from Cambodia. There are many private voluntary organizations. including religious organizations. which have had decadeslong service to the people of Indochina. They could do more than they are already doing in addressing the needs of these refugees if they had the resources to do so. I am very close to many of these organizations. I would cite one example: World Medical Missions. Inc.. from my own State of North Carolina. There is a serious shortage of medical personnel to attend to the overwhelming needs of thousands of refugees pouring into Thailand. World Medical Missions. in conjunction with the World Relief Committee. just this week will be sending 10 doctors to Thailand to help in the refugee camps. One may correctly ask what is unique about World Medical Missions sending doctors to Thailand? What is unique is the fact that 9 of the 10 doctors are former medical missionaries who have had significant experience in Indochina. Therefore. they will be able to begin immediately tending. to the medical needs of refugees without worries as to their capability in making the necessary cultural adaptation. If ade.uate assistance were available to pay transportation costs and maintenance allowances in Thailand. some 75 missionary doctors with similar experience would be available to assist in meeting this great human need. The list is endless. There is Cama Services in Thailand where Gary Johnston. a young American born in Thailand. is delivering badly needed medicine and protein supplements to the Khlong Kai Thuan refugee camp. The medicine and food were sent from California. and Gary hauled these vitally needed supplies to the camp in a small pickup. Without his efforts and the support of Cama Services. malnutrition and disease would have claimed an even higher human toll.