GRIP OF WINTER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21924, 19 January 1946, Page 6

GRIP OF WINTER

EUROPE'S PLIGHT SHORT FOOD SUPPLY MORE RELIEF URGENT (10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18. Behind Mr. Ernest Bevin’s appeal for a stronger united front in supplying food lies the picture of most of Europe short of bread, meat and milk, and caught in the grip of winter says the diplomatic correspondent of The Times. UNRRA has done a great deal, It has averted famine in many regions, but, according to recent evidence the battle cannot be won without more supplies. The worst areas at present are the Budapest region and parts of Austria, Dalmatia and Greece. A report Horn Budapest declares that 25 per cent, ot Budapest’s population is very near starvation level. Unless more food reaches them within a few weeks, death or total incapacity can be the onlv result. Four out of every 10 babies recently born in Budapest died. There is much reason to fear that rations in eastern Austria may fall below 1000 calories a day. It is considered that 2000 calories a day are necessary to preserve health without hard work and 1500 as the minimum required to avert threats of disease. Anything below 1000 calories means starvation.

The rations in other parts of Austria will soon fall below 1550 calories a day (the level which the Allies have sought to maintain) unless supplies or wheat can be brought in.

Low Rations in Yugoslavia

In Yugoslavia, especially the Dalmatia-Lika region, there are villages well below the 1500 calory mark The region is struggling to live amid ruined homes after the Germans left them only one-third of their livestock and grain stocks. Their rations are insufficient for hard work. The average rations in the country districts throughout Greece last August were 1100 to 1200 calories a day. UNRRA supplies have since then brought up the level, but it does not yet reach the 2000 calory mark. In the British zone of Germany an average of 1550 calories a day is fairly well maintained. Many people had additional sources from household stocks of vegetables, but generally stocks are failing. Without further supplies the basic ration will have to be further reduced, perhaps to 1200 calories. Similar anxieties come from the American zone.