বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড)/৪২
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
| লণ্ডনের দি টাইমস পত্রিকায় লিখিত অক্সফামের পরিচালক মিঃ কার্কলের বিবৃতি | দি টাইমস, লণ্ডন | ৩ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৭১ |
Letter of Mr. H. L. Kirkley, Director, Oxfam,
in THE TIMES, London
September 3, 1971
Sir, I feel compelled to reinforce Bernard Braine's plea (article, September 1) that “the international community intervenes now" to avert total famine in East Pakistan.
This situation is clearly beyond the control of individuals and private agencies, but there is a role for lesser groups to continue pressure for governmental and international action which could stave off famine now.
People must care sufficiently to supply their governments with the will to spend the people's money in the common cause of fighting famine, no matter in what land that ugly specter launches its bitterest attack.
The food situation in East Pakistan is already precarious. One family, visited by an Oxfam representative, was sheltering 81 displaced persons-within East Pakistan itself, let it be clear.
The danger is further aggravated by floods, high tides, and also by the fact that the British Parliament is not in session, for this is a most important forum in maintaining public awareness and goading action at highest levels.
Indeed, the greatest problem is not the material shortage, which this technological generation could adequately combat, but the twin problems of starting up the lumbering machine of international compassion and then maintaining public and government interest. Refugees who are hungry today are likely to be hungry every day for a long time. Public response is inclined to be in the form of one instinctive donation and then forgetfulness.
Since July 26, tractors of the consortium of British charities-Christian Aid, Oxfam. and War on Want-have been ploughing land in East Pakistan to help boost the flagging harvest. Is it too much to expect that now at this late hour the “international community" might be expected to step in with aid not tailored to the dictum “how much can we afford?” but related to the positive “How much is needed?”
In today's narrowing world, none of us can wash his hands of the hunger pangs of the starving children and old people in East Pakistan, whatever our views of the political situation there. And the world has only a week or two left in which to act.
H. L. KIRKLEY, Director, Oxfam,
274, Banbury Road, Oxford,
September 2.