1971-08-14
By Sam Pope Brewer
Page: 7
Says Cash Is Needed to Buy Food and Services
UNITED NATIONS, N. Y., Aug. 13 —Secretary General Thant reiterated today that there was still an urgent need for more cash donations—as distinguished from donations of supplies—to aid the victims of the recent fighting in East Pakistan and the cyclone there last November.
During the day Canada gave $7‐million in supplies and France gave about $200,000.
Meeting with representatives of 28 countries, Mr. Thant said cash was needed to pay for the transportation of food and other donated supplies, and to pay for food and services that must be purchased on the spot.
There are two separate programs of relief: one for persons who have fled into India to escape the fighting at home between the Pakistani Army and the Bengali separatists; the other for persons in East Pakistan left destitute by the storm.
The Indian Government has said that $400‐million would be needed to take care of the refugees through the end of September.
Mr. Thant reported that $51‐million in cash and $54.5million in kind had been pledged through United Nations channels, plus about $75million in cash and supplies from other sources.
For the cyclone victims, Mr. Thant said only about $4‐million had been contributed toward immediate requirements that he had set at $28.2‐million.