Speech #960171929

As press reports have indicated. the continuing conflict between the Vietnamesebacked Heng Samrin forces. Pol Pots army. and the various free Khmer antiCommunist military groups. has severely hampered the international effort to prevent the death by starvation and disease of the remaining people of Cambodia. Despite the increased willingness of the Heng Samrin regime in Phnom Penh to allow relief supplies into the country. thousands of hungry and diseasewracked refugees continue to cross over each day into Thailand fleeing the war. famine and disorder which has continued to plague their homeland. More needs to be done to insure that the needed food and medical supplies reach these desperate people. We commend our colleagues who have worked hard to improve the humanitarian relief operation. and particularly those who traveled to Cambodia to personally intercede with the authorities in Phnom Penh to give greater access to the relief shipments. and to broaden the distribution beyond the Phnom Penh area.