Biafran Aftermath

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 12

Biafran Aftermath

Biafra, the east-central Nigerian region where the secessionist regime collapsed last January, is still desperately in need of relief measures on a comprehensive scale. Fortunately, four major international groups remain active there. At the end of June the Nigerian Red Cross withdrew from the field and handed over control of its work to the State Rehabilitation Commissions. The Christian Council of Nigeria had also intended to recall its three relief teams; but a reassessment of needs caused it to continue its work, mainly in distributing food and providing health services, in co-operation with the Save the Children Fund, the Quaker Relief Services, and the Catholic Secretariat These four groups hope to keep their teams in the field at least until September 30. During the current rainy season little improvement on the farming side can be expected. The yam harvest is not due until September, but maize and rice should be available earlier—rice possibly by the end of this month. Reports say that there is now no starvation on the distressing scale reported during the final stages of the secessionist struggle. But the task of rehabilitation remains one of awesome size. The commissions are feeding some five million people with food from outside sources. They are discovering, not surprisingly, that the problem of malnutrition had not been accurately measured while the fighting was going on. Relief workers now say that in some areas the situation is actually worsening. During the second week in June, cases of severe malnutrition in one hospital rose from 229 to 588. Setbacks of this nature are no doubt- to be expected; but they emphasise the need for a continuing relief effort organised not locally alone, but in co-ordination with external agencies. The Nigerian Red Cross had concentrated largely on distributing drugs and equipment to the various relief teams; now the commissions have taken over that task, and control the funds available to the N.R.C. Some decline in efficiency will probably be noted until the new system gets working properly; but every effort is being made by the independent relief groups to cope with the heavy demands made on them. Economic recovery is still being impeded by the inability of the Federal Government to resolve the problem of currency convertibility. Small farmers and traders are forced to deal in the virtually worthless Biafran currency. For the Ibos generally there is simply no money to buy food. President Gowon had promised that convertibility would be tackled urgently. The Government’s dilemma can be appreciated, however, when it is realised that Biafran currency in circulation may amount to somewhere between £lOO million and £2OO million. The exchange of this vast sum, even on a basis of one Nigerian shilling for one Biafran pound, could threaten the stability of the entire Nigerian economy. These are only some of the aspects of the vast problem of restoration confronting the Federal Government in the grim aftermath of war. •