$200,000 to go to Kampuchea

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 3

$200,000 to go to Kampuchea

PA Wellington The Government had approved the contribution of a further $200,000 for the Kampuchean relief programmes, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Talboys) yesterday. The contribution would.be made through Unicef, which was co-ordinating the United Nations’s relief efforts, Mr T: Iboys said. He said the initial aid of the international effort had helped to stave off widespread suffering among the Kampucheans. The immediate danger had been averted, but it was still critical to ensure that adequate supplies of food would be available for the remainder of 1980. The relief effort was now also looking to the supply and distribution of seed, fertiliser, and other needed supplies to enable the people of Kampuchea to plant their rice in time for this year’s growing season, Mr Taiboys s> id.

New Zealand’s contribution to the international fund

now totals more than $2.5 million, Mr Taiboys said. The Government had contributed $600,000 and volun* tary agencies about $2 million. International relief agencies in Phnom Penh say Kampuchea will be suffering a severe famine crisis by early June. World Vision of New Zealand said it received a report that famine is inevitable, and the next two months are crucial for receiving relief goods and distributing them to the provinces.

However, the report asserts that unloading is a critical problem, and shipments have been restricted because of the partial collapse of the wharf at Phnom Penh. Ways to increase the flow of incoming goods are sought before monsoon rains close most of the provincial roads and bridges in about eight weeks. World’ Vision has bought an Argosy plane to double its carrying capacity into Kampuchea.