বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড)/৮৩
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
| বাংলাদেশের বিপর্যয়কর পরিস্থিতিঃ সিনেটর মণ্ডেল-এর বিবৃতি ও পররাষ্ট্র সচিব রজার্সকে প্রেরিত টেলিগ্রাম | সিনেটের কার্যবিবরণী | ৬ মে, ১৯৭১ |
May 6, 1971 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE S 6383
DISASTER IN EAST PAKISTAN
Mr. MONDAL. Mr. President, the people of East Pakistan-already ravaged by cyclone and civil war-are now threatened by a new disaster of incredible magnitude.
Only the most urgent action by the United States and other governments can save millions from dying of starvation.
The evidence of gathering tragedy was summarized in a letter printed by the New York Times, May 2.
Over 35 million Bengalis depend on imported food to maintain a precarious balance between life and death.
Food imports have been interrupted since February. Internal distribution has stopped.
History has given us the clearest warning of tragedy. In 1943, when the food shortage in the area was one-third what it is now, a similar break-down of food shipments meant the death of over a million people
Famine will not wait on publicity or bureaucratic inertia. A massive relief effort must be mounted now to revive the distribution system and reach the needy before meager food reserves are gone.
By the time we see the pictures of starving children, it will be too late to save them.
, Yet, in the face of this horror, the U. S. Government has stood by in unconscionable negligence.
We have made a vague, general offer of help, but failed to press the Government of Pakistan in any way to undertake the necessary relief effort.
We were silent when International Red Cross observers-whose impartial humanitarian mission is recognized by world community-were recently denied entry into East Pakistan.
The Department of State's “Pakistan Working Group", created when the civil, war broke out, has been disbanded now that the fighting has subsided. Apparently the danger of millions starving was not deemed an occasion for a “special effort" by this Government.
But something can be done.
The consortium of Governments giving economic aid to Pakistan are now in the process of meeting. They are being asked for considerable financial aid to bail Pakistan out of an acute foreign exchange crisis. Joined by a bipartisan group of Senators, 1 yesterday wired Secretary Rogers to make clear that the United States will not meet that request, and will ask other donors to refuse likewise, unless, first, the Pakistan authorities undertake an emergency relief effort equal to the crisis in East Pakistan, and second, representatives of the International Red Cross are granted prompt entry to East Pakistan to plan a coordinated international food distribution and medical relief effort with Pakistani authorities.
I would hope the Secretary would also make clear the readiness of the U.S. Government to make available a generous share of emergency food aid and vehicles for distribution, including helicopters and transport aircraft to be loaned to Pakistani relief authorities or the International Red Cross. Unbelievably, we seem on the verge of another Biafra-another combination of rationalized inaction and moral insensitivity which could cost millions of lives.
If America's claim to moral and humane values means anything, if the Government of Pakistan deserves to be recognized as the responsible authority in East Pakistan, the only course for both governments is the strongest humanitarian action now-before we watch the burial of another generation of babies.
I ask unanimously that a telegram to Secretary Rogers be printed in the RECORD.Hon. WILLIAM P, ROGERS.
U. S. Secretary of State, U. S. Interests Section, care of Spanish Embassy, Cairo United Arab Republic.
Dear Mr. SECRETARY: Tens of millions face starvation in East Pakistan without emergency efforts to restore full supply and distribution of food imports.
We urge you to instruct U. S. Rep. at Pakistan Consortium Talks to refuse further foreign exchange assistance, and ask other donors to refuse likewise, unless Government of Pakistan (1) mounts immediate emergency relief effort in east commensurate with potential need, and (2) grants ICRC observers entry to East to plan coordinated international food distribution and medical relief efforts with Pakistani authorities.
We recognize these are extraordinary actions but feel they are compelled by horrible prospects of millions starving in East Pakistan while governments have means to prevent it.
Sincerely,
Walter F. Mondale, Clifford P. Case, Fred R. Harris, Thorns F. Eagleton, George McGovern, Wimam Proxmire, Harold E. Hughes. Hubert H. Humphrey, Birch Bayh, and Edmund S. Muskie.