বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড)/৬২
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
| আন্তর্জাতিক উন্নয়ন এজেন্সীর রিপোর্ট (অংশ) | পররাষ্ট্র দপ্তর | ২৩ আগষ্ট, ১৯৭১ |
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Washington D.C. 20523
Disaster Memo. Number Four
East Pakistan-Civil Strife and Cyclone Victims.
SITUATION SUMMARY
UN Relief Operations Role.
As reported previously, the Government of Pakistan on May 22, 1971, requested the United Nations to coordinate international relief in East Pakistan. The UN agreed to accept this responsibility and sent a special envoy, Ismat Kittani, to Pakistan to work out the framework for an international relief effort in cooperation with the Pakistan Government,
During the month of June, the UN assigned la number of personnel to help plan an effective UN-guided relief program. These included the appointments of Mr. Bahgat El-Tawil as special representative in charge of relief coordination in Dacca. Mr. Stephen R. Tripp as special headquarters coordinator to work with Mr. Kittani in New, York and Geneva, and Mr. Glen Haydon to work in Dacca for several weeks assisting Mr. El - Tawil in surveying relief requirements. It also included special teams from the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Food Program to determine health and food needs. At the same time, UNICEF was formulating a special feeding program for mothers and children with Pakistan authorities, WFP. and WHO.
On July, 15, 1971, the UN issued a press release on its first comprehensive survey of initial relief requirements in East Pakistan. These are covered in a special section below. On August 11, the UN reported that it had completed its organizational staffing plan and that it was in the process of implementing Phase 1 of the plan. Phase 1 called for sending 38 people to work in East Pakistan. The UN indicated some of these people had already arrived and some were on the way.The rest of the positions were expected to be filled by the end of the month. This group of personnel included increased staffing for the Office of the Secretary-General's Representative in Dacca; an advisory team on agriculture, ports and water transport management, health and general relief problems; an operations unit, including four area coordinators; and an administrative unit, including finance, transport, and communications personnel.
The U.S. Government has pledged its full cooperation and support to the UN coordination of relief operations in East Pakistan. Identification of Major Problems.
The most critical problem hampering the delivery of food and other supplies to disaster victims is 'that of the breakdown of transportation. This is the result of a severe shortage of coastal and river vessels and the destruction of rail and road facilities. There are additional problems to be solved. There is a great need (1) to improve the nutritional value of imported food, (2) to restore purchasing power in rural areas by reactivating the Taccaviloan system, cooperatives, and other work projects, (3) to increase input of seeds, fertilizers and equipment, and (4) to improve irrigation with emphasis on increasing the average area irrigated per pump. It has been estimated that for every ton of fertilizer not made available now, five tons of foodgrain will have to be transported later.
Transport and Distribution-Recent Breakthroughs.
On July 26, it was reported that the Government of East Pakistan had submitted a utilization plan for coastal vessels. On July 28, information was received that the Governor had appointed a coordination committee for inland water transport. The purpose of this committee is to maximize the use of available water transport facilities of East Pakistan. The GOEP has established a headquarters station for water transport functions at Narayanganj with a regional office at Chittagong. These actions are expected to aid in the proper use and coordination of chartered foreign vessels and “minibulkers" for which the use has contributed $4 million under three agreements with the Government of Pakistan. Arrangements have already been made for leasing of 26 coasters exhausting this total of $4 million provided under these three agreements. The first coaster arrived in East Pakistan to begin relief operations on August 1, and eight others are scheduled to arrive before October 1. Total capacity of these nine vessels is 6,300 tons, and it is expected they will have 3 turn-rounds per month.
UNICEF reported that 24 of its vehicles had been returned the later pan of July in good condition. They had been commandeered by the Pakistan Army.
Refugees.
As of August 6, the Government of Pakistan estimated 107,098 refugees had returned from India to Pakistan. Of this number 25,006 returned through refugee reception centers and 82,092 through “unrecognized" routes. Of the total, some 35,000 are said to be non-Muslims. Since June 10, 29 refugee centers have been established in East Pakistan by the Government.
Economy.
The economy is recovering slowly from the effects of the civil strife which started March 11 and began subsiding in June. Most factories and mills have reopened but only about 50 per cent of the labor force has returned to work. Production stands at about 40 per cent of normal. In large cities about one-third of the commerce has been resumed. Agricultural yields are expected to decrease between 10-15 per cent. The entire economy is suffering from the breakdown of the transportation and communication systems. Until there is improvement in these areas the economy will remain strapped. Agriculture.
Hundreds of thousands of farmers have left their lands, seriously disrupting farming operations in East Pakistan. This exodus of farmers has affected all border areas and even some internal areas, especially Khulna, Dinajpur, and. Rajshahi Districts.
A July 1971 USAID forecast on rice production for Fiscal Year 1972 is 9. 64 million tons 12 per cent below the record crop in FY 1970. Average grain production is 11 million tons per year. In addition an estimated 1.5 to 2 million tons should be imported to achieve 'normal" consumption levels. Because of the dislocation of the entire economy, production shortfall is expected to be 1.5 million tons, thus increasing the need for import to an estimated 3 million tons. The maximum import of food grains in any previous year was about 1.5 million tons in FY 1970.
It will take heroic, efforts to get that much moved through the system in FY 1972, considering the problems of transportation and distribution, but highest priority must be given to this task if severe food shortages are to be averted.
Special Report on the Situation on Bhola Island.
Subsequent to the above agricultural projection, two USAID representatives on July 24, reviewed agriculture and food distribution on Bhola Island. They found food distribution to be about half of the requirement but improving. They reported that prospects for rice production were better than expected because a large acreage (about 125,000 acres) of Aus rice had been planted and was now being harvested. The USAID representatives commented that although the food situation on Bhola appeared to be recovering from the effects of the November cyclone and March disturbances, it could not be assumed that the same conditions prevailed in other cyclone-affected areas. Bhola is more accessible in the monsoon season than other areas such as Manpura or other Islands.
Disaster Relief Coordinator.