NEW ZEALANDERS RETURN TO GREECE

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1945, Page 4

NEW ZEALANDERS RETURN TO GREECE

OF all the countries of liberated Europe, none has suffered to the extent of Greece. In no country was transport so completely dislocated and in no country has a child born now such a small chance of survival. New Zealand is making a large-scale contribution to the relief of the Greek people by sending through Corso (Council of Organisation for Relief Services Overseas) teams of voluntary workers to help Unrra. It is most fitting that New Zealand, should be represented once again in Greece and the decision to appeal to the public to subscribe the necessary funds has been supported warmly both by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the National Party. The opportunity to contribute to the street day appeal in Whangarei tomorrow will be appreciated by those who have grateful memories of what the Greek people did for Britain and especially for our own forces. For nine desparate months, Greece was our only ally. She suffered much because of what she did then. The country was denuded during the period of temporary Axis ascendancy.

. Since 1942 the Greek people have struggled against starvation —thousands of them unsuccessfully—and have suffered almost complete national disruption. Even the primary means of securing a livelihood have not yet been restored. That thousands more will perish during the rigours of the present winter seems to be taken for granted with the casualism which is part of war’s aftermath.

Something can be done to relieve the situation, and what we can do we ought to do. The most urgent need is for more qualified relief workers—doctors, nurses, nutritionists, technicians, voluntary' aids, welfare officers and their assistants. Their task will be to help displaced persons return to their homes, to rehabilitate village life, to care for children—to do the things that belong to the human side of relief work. It is a humanitarian undertaking of the first importance and four well-balanced teams, ready to leave our shores, have been selected not only for their skill but also because of their humanitarian motives and their desire to promote international understanding and friendship. To make their early departure possible Corso is making its current appeal for funds.