পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৮১২

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন।

784 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড one. Subscribing to the express wishes of the Government of India, we have left the operational responsibility to the authorities. My representative and his Focal Point team act essentially as a liaison and coordinating link and their duty stations is Delhi. From there, they frequently travel to the States where the refugees are concentrated and they have visited numerous camps in each of the States. Additionally, staff members of UNICEF, WFP and WHO have undertaken missions to the refugee areas. UNICEF also having an office in Calcutta and Liaison Officers in the States of West Bengal. Assam. Meghalaya and Tripura. The responsibility of the United Nations system is essentially to take action at the international level to raise contributions, to channel these to the Government of India and to co-ordinate activities in regard to their use in order that the Focal Point may be able, with the help of the Government of India, to give a satisfactory account of the use of their contributions to the donors. Additionally, the team in Delhi is associated with the planning of needs and priorities, particularly in regard to items that have to be obtained from abroad or for which financing from the Focal Point is feasible. The utility of the Focal Point mechanism is being proved by the results obtained. A centre exists within the United Nations system to coordinate information and activity. This facilitates contacts both with Governments and non-governmental organizations and is convenient for all concerned. Additionally, the United Nations system has been especially suited to offshore procurement of items, such as shelter material, vehicles, blankets, etc. I believe this has been of real assistance in the emergency. The mechanism has also enabled flexibility in seeking commodities at the most economic world prices and has thereby assured an optimum use of aid for the cash pledged. With all these advantages. I think it is important to stress that the United Nations does not have the means to operate itself a relief programme of such magnitude for an indefinite period of time. This is all to the good, for to try to do so would be to run the risk of institutionalizing and perpetuating a situation that no one desires, least of all the host country. It would also expose the international community to an economic and political burden without end. affect the morale of the refugees and become a confession of hopelessness. The principal objective must, therefore, categorically remain the promoting of conditions leading rapidly to voluntary operation. On the other hand being non- operational. it is relatively less easy to report on and have readily available all details relevant to the assistance measures taken, For obvious reasons it is essential not to neglect this aspect of the work in view of the natural desire of donors to receive full satisfaction that their contributions have been used to the maximum benefit of recipients. In this regard. I am sure I can count on the full cooperation of the Government of India. I cannot express sufficient admiration for the countless men and women of India who are joining together against frightening odds to bring succor to the refugees. You have heard at length of the relief operation, of the funds needed and contributed and of our efforts to be of assistance, Critically, important as this is-and it is clear we need to more than double our efforts-the only viable and lasting solution lies, as obviously, in another direction. This is the terrible paradox of the situation. We all know and agree that this cruel and gigantic problem can only be resolved by the repatriation of the refugees; the question is, how can this best be achieved, particularly, since it is the expressed wish of both the Governments principally concerned that the refugees be repatriated. The Fife of the