474 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড ३8 { বাংলা 3.5.71 A. 19 1300 PAKISTAN RELIEF (HUBs) The three largest British relief organizations-Oxfam. War on Want and Christian Aid- have launched a joint appeal in Britain for what they describe as the homeless families who have fled from the tragedy of East Bengal into India. They estimate the number of those in need at about a million, requiring tents, milk powder, baby foods and other necessities. The first load of supplies is expected to leave for Calcutta later this week. The whole operation will be coordinated with the work already being carried out by the Indian authorities in West Bengal. The BBC Commonwealth correspondent recalls that last year the British public contributed one and a half million pounds for cyclone relief work in East Pakistan. He says that because the Pakistani authorities will not allow the relief agencies to operate in East Pakistan, some long term projects have not been put into effect. For example, forty tractors were being sent from Britain to set up a tractor training school but our correspondent adds, they will probably have to come back to Britain. Dipcorr (WALKER) DՍM 1230/fes રેલ ! বাংলা 5.6.71 C. 56 1430 CHOLERA As the international relief operation gets under way to help fight the outbreak of cholera among East Pakistani refugees in India, there are reports that more refugees are still crossing the border to add to the estimated four and a half million already in west Bengal. Forty thousand refugees were being cared for in one camps alone only a few miles from Dum Dum airport near Calcutta, where the Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, arrived for talks on the situation with the Chief Minister of West Bengal. A BBC correspondent in Calcutta says deaths from cholera mong the refugees may already total between three and four thousand, and the approaching monsoon rains will make conditions worse. In Geneva, the World Health Organisation has seventeen tons of medical supplies ready for dispatch but is being held up by lack of transport. In Britain, a plane is leaving London during the day carrying a million doses of anti-cholera vaccine, and Royal Air Force transport plane is preparing to fly to India on Monday carrying further supplies of vaccine and a mobile hospital. The RAF are also flying tents from Singapore. Medical supplies are being sent by other countries and a number of governments have now donated several million pounds to a United Nations Appeal for funds to Finance relief. R W 1030 Cholera (when-Gandhi arrival new) LVWDMW1440 ; je With UPl: 201; Dipcorr (Brierly); RTR
