N.Z. aid assembling for Pakistan

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32460, 21 November 1970, Page 9

N.Z. aid assembling for Pakistan

The National Council of Churches in New Zealand is to send $3OOO from its Christian World Service funds for relief in East Pakistan, it was decided at a meeting of the council’s executive committee in Christchurch this week.

A cable received by the council from the World Council of Churches in Geneva said there was an enormous need in Pakistan for medicines, blankets and shelters. As Christian churches in Pakistan were small, church relief supplies would initially be sent through the East Pakistan Red Cross.

The director of Christian World Service (Mr F. G. Heard) said that the magnitude of the disaster was hard to comprehend. It was the immediate relief which helped most

He suggested that the New Zealand Government should release an Air Force aircraft or charter a civil airliner which New Zealand relief organisations could fill with food, blankets and medicines to be Sown to Dacca in East Pakistan.

To yesterday the North Canterbury centre of the Red Cross Society had received $169 from Christchurch persons for relief in East Pakistan.

The secretary-manager of the centre (Mr R. J. Lipscombe) said that the initial gift of $2OOO from the New Zealand Red Cross Society for East Pakistan would be used to purchase blankets and multi-vitamin tablets.

Because shipping to East Pakistan would not be available until the New Year, the second phase of the relief operation would provide corrugated iron, water pipes and milk powder, he said. The New Zealand Save the Children Fund has sent $2OOO for the relief of children who have suffered from the Bengal tidal wave, the fund’s Dominion chairman (Mrs T. L. Fancourt) said in Timaru

yesterday, according to the Press Association.

She said the S.C.F. in London had already sent $lO,OOO and flown 3000 blankets and two tons of clothing to East Pakistan.

The publicity officer for the North Canterbury branch of the fund (Mrs N. J. McPhail) said yesterday that more money would be sent from the New Zealand fund when it became available. Contributions, which would be acknowledged, could be sent to P.O. Box 12, or Box 656, Christchurch.