বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড)/৬৩
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
| কংগ্রেসের নিকট অতিরিক্ত অর্থ বরাদের আবেদনকারী বাংলাদেশ সম্পর্কে প্রেসিডেণ্ট নিক্সন | সিনেটের কার্যবিরণী | ৬ অক্টোবর, ১৯৭১ |
Presidential Statement.
I am today requesting the Congress to appropriate additional funds to meet human needs in South Asia. The United States has been deeply concerned over the situation in South Asia both on humanitarian grounds and because of the implications for peace.
Recent events in East Pakistan, compounding the destruction from natural disasters, have led to widespread human suffering. Unchecked this situation could drift toward greater disaster in the form of famine or even war. It is a primary objective of the Administration to relieve suffering and help avert such a situation.
Acting on its mandate as the conscience of the world community, the United Nation, under the leadership of the Secretary General, has focused concern on the plight of those who are caught in this situation. Through its special missions in Dacca and New Delhi, the United Nations has also provided the operational framework for channeling relief supplies to the millions who need them both in India and in East Pakistan.
Many countries and private donors are responding to this enormous challenge. The United States has already provided substantial amounts of food and foreign exchange to support the programs of the United Nations in aid of the millions of refugees in India and the millions who could face starvation in East Pakistan.
But more needs to be done-by the United States and by other donors. The costs of dealing with this problem through this fiscal year are expected to be over a billion dollars, far beyond the means of India and Pakistan. The House of Representatives early recognized the need for unusual humanitarian relief for South Asia and on August 3, 1971, authorized $100 million in additional funds under the Foreign Assistance Act, that we be able to play our proper role. Since that time, however the magnitude of the need has ground. It is also important that we be able to play our proper role promptly if contingency in the relief operation arise.
I, therefore, urge that in addition to completing action on the House initiative, the Congress authorize and appropriate an additional sum of SI50 million for the relief and rehabilitation of refugees from East Pakistan and for humanitarian relief in East Pakistan under the Foreign Assistance Act. Together with food supplied under Public Law 480, these funds will enable us to do our share in mitigating the effects of this human crisis, and thus help avert the deeper tragedies that all too easily could follow.