Vol. 236 No. 1
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he intends to encourage or assist Irish firms and private persons who are responding to Biafra's appeal for clothing and medicine; and whether the Government intend to take any direct initiative in the matter.
6.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he has investigated the possibility of sending an Irish ship with food supplies to the Biafrans through Port Harcourt.
7.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is aware of recent reports from Biafra indicating that half a million young children are dying of kwashiarkar for which skim milk is the specific remedy; and, if so, if he will arrange to forward a consignment of this product of which Ireland has a surplus, to Biafra immediately.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 5, 6 and 7 together.
The Government are keenly aware of the sufferings of the people affected by the conflict in Nigeria.
Two months ago, Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann gave £5,000 in cash from the Emergency Relief Fund to the International Committee of the Red Cross to help the victims of the Nigerian conflict.
On 28th June, the Government informed Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann that they are making available to it an additional contribution of £100,000 for the purchase of food and medicines in Ireland for despatch to Nigeria, and particularly to the distressed districts in the Eastern area. It is to be hoped that these supplies can be delivered before long but at present delivery by boat to Port Harcourt is not feasible.
The Government hope that the Committee's appeal for subscriptions and gifts for this purpose will continue to meet with a generous response.
May we assume from what the Taoiseach has said that the position as described by the Minister for External Affairs last week in regard to delivery is still the same? Is there any breakthrough in the matter of delivering these food supplies to Biafra or any other part of Nigeria where people are starving?
The delivery system is much the same as the Minister mentioned last week. The International Committee of the Red Cross are operating on both sides, in the Federal area and the Biafran area, and they have certain means of getting supplies in.
Is it clear that any money subscribed for the purchase of food and medicines will arrive in these places within a short time?
Yes, I believe they will. As I said, the Red Cross have means of getting these supplies in, and every effort will be made to ensure that Irish contributions will get into the affected areas as quickly as possible.
As regards Biafra, has the Taoiseach or the Minister for External Affairs considered a direct approach to the Nigerian Government with a view to having the necessary supplies delivered in Biafra to ensure that those for whom these supplies are intended will not die from starvation?
The Lagos authorities have permitted supplies to be delivered to Biafra through Lagos, but subject to their inspection. I think it is generally known that the Biafran people are not satisfied with this inspection because they have certain fears of what might happen the food, but I do not think it would be possible to ensure any better system than inspection by the Lagos authorities of supplies going into Biafra. However, in the meantime there are other means of getting supplies into Biafra which are obviously acceptable to the Biafran people.
Has the Taoiseach or the Department of External Affairs considered the desirability of channelling some of the aid through other relief organisations than the International Red Cross? I understand that a body such as Caritas Internationale is acceptable to the Biafrans and that there is a likelihood that it would be easier to channel some of the relief through that rather than through the International Red Cross.
I think the International Red Cross have more experience of this kind of operation. I am aware of the efforts of Caritas Internationale as well, and I believe they have succeeded in getting certain supplies in also. But at the moment, it is better that we rely on the best known international agency, which is the International Red Cross, because we know they have the kind of experience required in this field. I am not suggesting other organisations have not got it.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the original means of entering Biafra was via Lisbon and Port Harcourt and that that means is now closed? Could he give any indication to the House that this relief which is so urgently needed in Biafra to avert starvation will get any further than Federal Nigeria itself? There does not appear to be any definite information that there is a corridor of communication between the two parts of the country?
I think I have answered that already. It is true that much of the supplies came via Lisbon originally, but, as I said in reply to Deputy Corish and Deputy Cosgrave, the International Red Cross and Caritas International have their own means of direct delivery. I have no doubt that the supplies we are making available are arriving where they are most needed. I am not suggesting they are earmarked only for Biafra; they are for relief of hunger and hardship on both sides.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the major starvation and emergency that exist at the moment are in Biafra? Does he not consider it possible for our representative in Nigeria, who is in residence, I understand, in Lagos, to endeavour to ensure that this very much needed supply of food to the starving millions in Biafra will be looked after by him and will get into the country, because there is no guarantee at the moment it will go any further than Nigeria?
Would the Taoiseach say whether there are close contacts between the Irish Red Cross and the Department of External Affairs?
Yes, absolutely continuous contact.
It is not a question of just handing over the money?
This is a well worked out system of contact and the Deputy need have no worries about that.
