পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৭৯৯

771 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড United Nations in order to alleviate the suffering of this mass of refugees and to ease the burden on the Indian economy which their presence inevitably carried in its wake. This request was brought to the attention of all Heads of United Nations Agencies and Programmes at a meeting of the administrative committee on coordination presided by U-Thant at Berne on April 26 and 27. It was clear during this meeting that a problem of this magnitude required a concerned and coordinated effort of all members of the United Nations system. The varied and colossal nature of immediate relief measures-be it food, shelter or medical care-was such that it was far beyond the financial or technical means of UNHCR alone. The Secretary-General was therefore convinced of the need to step up a mechanism of co-ordination without delay. His decision was also in line with the thinking of the Government of India which, in its request, addressed itself to the whole United Nations system. After consultations with all executive heads, the Secretary-General decided on April 29 that the High Commissioner for Refugees should act as the Focal Point for the coordination of assistance from the United Nations. By then, the increasingly large numbers of refugees were already imposing great sacrifices on India and its administration, and many more were yet to come. Immediately after assuming these additional functions, I sent to India a team of three senior staff members headed by the Deputy High Commissioner to investigate and assess the situation. A succinct report of the findings of this mission was made available to Governments. An analysis of the situation and of the views of the two Governments principally concerned, that is to say India and Pakistan, made it clear from the beginning that the United Nations action was to concentrate upon two things: First, urgent relief measures for refugees in India and whenever possible, promotion of their voluntary repatriation, which was generally agreed to be the only lasting solution to the problem. Consequently, on May 19, 1971, the Secretary-General launched an appeal for assistance to East Pakistani refugees. While emphasizing his deep concern for their plight, U-Thant expressed the hope that these refugees would be "voluntarily repatriated at the earliest possible time"., I indicated that, "pending such repatriation, massive external assistance will be required on an emergency basis" and appealed "to governments, inter- governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as private sources, to help meet the urgent needs". I have actively followed up this appeal, and I am gratified to say that the response of the international community has been generous though it may yet seem inadequate in relation to India's needs. I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation of all donor governments and non-governmental organizations and voluntary organizations which, so speedily, made available contributions in cash and kind. While it is heartening to note that the response of the international community to this refugee problem has been of unprecedented magnitude-with contributions in cash and in kind amounting to date to some 115 million dollars-I must emphasize that much more is still required. I intend making available shortly to all governments a detailed account of priority needs for their immediate attention. As for the actual mechanism of the Focal Point, immediately after assuming these responsibilities I set up in Geneva a standing inter-agency consultation unit. Its task is.