1971-04-18
By Reuters
Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
Background: More than 100,000 refugees from East Pakistan are now reported to be taking refuges at reception centres and hospitals in India as Pakistan Government troops increase their control over the border areas of the province. This film from Visnews cameraman Bill MacConville on the border just inside India, shows some of the misery of those who have fled from shelling, bombing and burning in East Pakistan, and now huddle in the overcrowded wards of Behampur hospital.
There were reports today of Pakistan army attacks in both the eastern and western border areas, and efforts seem to be increasing to seal both completely. Until they are, the flood of refugees will increase and further strain the slim resources of help for refugees in India.
SYNOPSIS: At Behampur hospital, in India near the western border of East Pakistan, the civil war in East Pakistan has brought an ever-increasing flood of refugees, Now that Pakistan Government forces are pressing for control over the border areas, the stream of people fleeing to India can only get bigger until the borders are completely sealed.
These people, victims of shelling, bombing and burning, have come here in their hundreds from some of the most densely populated areas of the world, to India's Bengal which is almost equally thick with people.
In Behampur hospital, facilities are severely strained to cope with the injured, who lie huddled about the overcrowded wards. Some of them walked as far as 50 miles (80 kms) to get across the border, and are recovering from the journey. Others sustained terrible injuries in the fighting.
Reports suggest that the Pakistan army means to seal both eastern and western borders before long, stemming the flow of refugees, but the Indians already shelter more than 100,000 refugees of the civil war.