Denial Of Hoax Claim On Appeal For Biafra

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31908, 8 February 1969, Page 7

Denial Of Hoax Claim On Appeal For Biafra

A claim made in a letter to the editor of “The Press” that the appeal for money to counter starvation in Biafra is based on a hoax is denied in replies received from the National Council of Churches and the headquarters of the New Zealand Red Cross Society.

In a letter dated January 23, the correspondent, "Disgusted,” wrote: “In this morning’s 8.30 a.m. news bulletin it was reported that an International Observer Commission (the second within a few months) reports absolutely no trace of the alleged genocide, or thousands dying of starvation in Biafra. Coupled with the refusal of outside areas to let the socalled mercy flights continue to airlift diesel Oil and other inedible material, it seems an explanation is due from the International Red Cross, the National Council of Churches and Caritas. Thousands of dollars have been given by well ■ intentioned church people to what must surely be the greatest hoax since Germany’s notorious Winter Fund. Have they, in fact, been contributing to a flow of goods for use in war, as well as costly trips abroad for officials of these charities?” Churches* Comment The Rev. D. M. Taylor, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, says: “This International Observer Commission to which ‘Disgusted’ refers reports that in those areas which the Federal troops captured, the prisoners were not systematically slaughtered. Therefore the word ‘genocide’ is an exaggerated term in present circumstances and the charge must full to the ground. “This, however, does not change the hard facts that in Nigeria, particularly in Biafra, vast numbers of men, women and children have been starving and thousands more are dying today. “Evidence can be read in almost any church paper, e.g., the ‘Challenge’ (February 1, 1969). In my office we receive fresh reports from eye-wit-nesses almost every day. “Quite apart from the mercy flights sent to Biafra by the International Red Cross, 1205 flights from Sao Tome have been made through the efforts of the World Council of Churches and Caritas. Throughout the time when the Red Cross was prevented from carrying on its flights, the churches were able to carry on every night Every plane has been loaded, with concentrated high-pro-tein food, but. much more is needed immediately.” Red Cross Society Mr M. C. Ashdown, secre-tary-general of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, comments: "The International Committee of the Red Cross is not given to making wild, unfounded statements as hinted at in your correspondent’s letter, and whilst recently in Geneva I saw photographs of Biafrans showing dearly the results of starvation and malnutrition, including one particularly poignant scene showing rats ’ for sale as food in the local market. “Recent press releases will ’ have shown that the new flights to Biafra have started from Dahomey, replacing those originally from Santa Isobel on the island of Fernando Po. “A further development within the area, and again i carried out by the Inter* • national Red Cross, is a measles vaccination campaign, dealing with one . million children, in an ; attempt to wipe out a scourge 1 in which infants up to the age of three years , are , parti* ' cularly susceptible, and generally resulting in a high mortality rate. 107,090 Vaccinated “This campaign is being , carried out by four teams of ■ medical personnel necessita* ■ ting the use Of refrigerated ’ vehicles as well as injection equipment Between Decem-

• ber 28, 1968, and January 9, ' 1969, these teams vaccinated > 107,000 children and the i international committee is I busily planning to follow the • measles campaign with small- > pox inoculation at a later ! date. > “The international committee is arranging, in conjunc-

tion with nine Red Cross national societies and the War Veterans’ Federation, for the organisation of hospital facilities in various countries for plastic surgery and orthopaedic treatment for victims of this war and for which there are no suitable facilities in Biafra. To this end the Nigerian authorities have agreed to the evacuation of Biafran war wounded over Nigerian territory. At present 107 casualties are awaiting facial surgery, eye surgery, nerve and orthopaedic surgery. “As can be imagined, the amount of transport being used by the 438 personnel in very rough country necessitates fuel and spare parts, and in so far as Biafra is concerned this must be flown in, as well as the essential foods, and not as indicated by your correspondent"