WEST IRIAN U.N. FORCES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29989, 26 November 1962, Page 5

WEST IRIAN U.N. FORCES

Food Needed Urgently (NZ. Press Assn. —Copyright) SYDNEY. November 23. The 1600 United Nations troops in Biak. West New Guinea, are running short of food. A United Nations official arrived in Sydney by air from the area today to arrange for urgently-needed supplies of meat to be flown to the troops. Less than three hours after his arrival two tons and a half of Australian meat was on its way to Biak by jet. The official, Mr Knut Fredner, is the chief procurement officer for the United Nations forces in Biak. “Shipping difficulties, over the last few weeks, have caused our food supply in Biak to fall off alarmingly," Mr Fredner said.

K.L.M. Airline officials in Sydney agreed to off-load enough freight to make room for the emergency food supply. Mr Ferdner said he also was arranging for 20,000 eggs to be sent to Biak.

Today’s emergency food rations will cost the United Nations about £5OOO by the time air-freighting and Handling charges are paid. “I have 1600 Pakistani troops to feed—and that means more than 50001 b of meat a week,” he said. “At that rate it doesn't take long for a food shortage to become serious.”