Organized international relief operations alone would be able to remove the consequences of the large scale disruptions of economic life caused by the current crisis.
It is extraordinary that in these circumstances the Government of Pakistan has not only disallowed the International Red Cross team which went to Karachi from proceeding to Bast Bengal but has not to the best of our knowledge responded to many offers of help. As carly as April 1. U. That said that he was “very much concerned about the loss of life and human suffering resulting from the recent developments in East Pakistan” and added that “if the Government of Pakistan asked the Secretary-General to assist in humanitarian efforts, he would be happy to do everything in his power to help”. The response to this gesture by the Secretary-General has just been released—briefly it says NOT YET. In this contest we agree—with comments made in the New York Times editorial this morning. It says inter alia “Contrary to bland assurances which continue to emanate from West Pakistan spokesmen, the situation is unquestionably desperate, and will require large believe that many other Governments and international organizations have offered to help but without any reaction from Pakistan Government which continues to say that there is enough food in the country”. Only a few months ago, a most violent cyclone devastated some parts of East Bengal. At that time, in many Committees and other forums of the United Nations, resolutions, were passed for working out a machinery for emergency relief in natural disasters. Then, Pakistan appealed widely for help: many countries, including my own, generously responded to this appeal. Yet it is ironical that when tragedies have accumulated Pakistan claims that it has enough food.
In the face of this, the first essential step would be for the Economic and Social Council to ask Pakistan to immediately indicate its consent so that concrete plans for organized and well coordinated action programme for relief work can be finalized under U.N. auspices. Since the Secretary-General, U. That, has already offered to extend all possible humanitarian help, he should have a vital responsibility in the organisation of such an international relief effort.
We hope and trust that there would be no temptation to deny the basic necessities of life and services to the East Bengalis in order to crush their desire to achieve their legitimate aspirations. They have suffered enough and in their hour of trial they will doubtless remember who cared, and who simply stood and stared.
