Relief Review In Nigeria

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 15

Relief Review In Nigeria

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) LAGOS, June 16. International Red Cross teams were working as usual in Federal Nigeria today, but changes in their role appeared inevitable after the Government’s move against their chief aid coordinator, Dr August Lindt. Dr Lindt was declared persona non grata on Tuesday, the Government accusing him of giving false information to Lagos airport authorities, and of becoming politically involved in Nigerian affairs.

Foreign diplomats and officials of the relief organisation are studying the implications of the latest Government moves; and changes in Red Cross activities seem inevitable because of the present tough mood reflected by the press since a series of damaging Biafran air attacks against Nigeria. Though the Government said yesterday that the whole position of the Red Cross was being reviewed, sources close to the society in Lagos doubt whether the Federal leader (General Yakubu Gowon) would order a total ban on its activities.

The Nigerian newspapers today printed full reports on the banning of Dr Lindt, but without editorial comment. So far there has been no elaboration of the statement by the Commissioner of External Affairs (Dr Okoi Arikpo) that “appropriate action” would be taken if it

was found that Red Cross activities threatened the country’s security. Many unofficial allegations have been made in the last few weeks connecting the Red Cross, on both sides of the war lines, and Dr Lindt, personally, with spying; but the Government has not raised or endorsed any specific charges about this.

The move against Dr Lindt appears to have resulted from what one foreign diplomat in Lagos today described as a general misunderstanding in Europe and Africa about the society’s relief activities. The feeling has been growing among Nigerians that relief shipments to Biafra, which have totalled nearly 19,000 tons from the I.C.R.C. alone since its programme began, are now the main sus-

taining factor of the two-year conflict. Thousands of tons have also been flown into the Biafran airstrip of Uli-Ihiala by Caritas and joint church programmes. Such relief activities were allowed because Nigerians felt that they had to respond in some way to humanitarian appeals, according to one diplomat. At the same time, people in Europe failed to understand that the plight of the war victims made a comparatively small impact on people already used to living in rigorous conditions. Federal officials have privately admitted for some months that relations between Dr Lindt and Ministry of External Affairs were at a low ebb; and these were exacerbated in May by the Biafrans’

detention of 18 European oilmen and the efforts by Dr Lindt to have them freed. These efforts were fruitless, and attracted fresh international attention to Biafra. Dr Lindt’s detention at Lagos airport shortly afterwards is regarded by political observers as an expression of these feelings. Sources close to the International Red Cross say that it is possible its activities on the Federal side may now be scaled down in the field of rehabilitation, or handed over entirely to the Nigerian Red Cross. At present, about one million people on the Federal side are being fed by I.C.R.C. teams, but most of these are not now facing malnutrition, and some are even better off than before the war. It also appears likely that the main Federal Government pressure will be directed against night flights into Biafra by the 1.C.R.C., and the church organisations, from Cotonou, Fernando Po and Sao Tome. Despite an official ban on these, the Government has allowed most relief flights to go into Uli without serious challenge. Future relations between the I.C.R.C. and the Federal Government are almost certain to be explored by the organisation’s delegate for Africa, Mr George Hoffman, who is in Lagos on a 10-day visit. Although his specific mission is to obtain details about the shooting down of a Swedish Red Cross relief plane, diplomatic sources say he is probably looking at the situation as a whole.