asked the Minister for External Affairs if the Government propose to provide further relief supplies to Nigeria and Biafra; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nigeria-Biafra Relief Supplies.
10.
As the Deputy is aware £100,000 was voted by the Dáil on the 9th July for the purchase of food and medicines in Ireland for dispatch to Nigeria and particularly to the distressed districts in the eastern area. So far £84,890 has been expended by Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann; £62,790 for relief supplies dispatched from Ireland to Fernando Po for onwards transmission to the distressed eastern districts; £12,100 for relief supplies for distribution in the distressed areas under Federal control; and £10,000 in cash, recently sent to the International Red Cross to help defray transport costs, which the Society could not meet without obtaining additional donations.
As a result of a further appeal the Government decided on the 28th August to pledge £25,000 to Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann to help it to equip and supply two additional Red Cross medical teams and to extend the tour of the team which has been doing splendid work in the Uyo area since September.
Apart from the Government's contributions, Cumann Croise Deirge has, of course, received — and is continuing to receive — generous donations from the Irish public in both cash and kind and it is at present assembling further consignments of relief supplies.
I can assure the Deputy that the whole question of humanitarian assistance to alleviate the famine and disease which have resulted from the tragic conflict in Nigeria will continue to receive the most careful and sympathetic attention.
Can the Minister say whether consideration has been given to initiating joint action with other countries in the United Nations anxious to provide relief? The Minister no doubt has had his attention directed to the very serious report which was published at the weekend which would indicate that the appalling prospect of millions dying between now and the spring has become a reality. Perhaps in those circumstances he would consider initiating action with other countries.
There is a co-ordinating committee which holds meetings from time to time. The various humanitarian organisations attend those meetings and go into the matter of how supplies which are available or about to become available should be distributed. The United Nations Children's Fund and other funds co-operate with representatives of the United Nations Secretary General and indicate the area they consider should be helped in conjunction with the co-ordination committee.
While I appreciate that the Minister must be aware that recent reports would indicate that while whatever has been done up to the present has made some contribution in different places, there is an immediate prospect of millions dying from starvation through lack of carbohydrates and proteins and due to the fact that the seed planted for next year had been largely eaten. In those circumstances has any bigger relief commitment been considered in the United Nations?
The difficulty is to get the relief supplies delivered into the heart of the Ibo territory. They have to be flown in under most difficult conditions. Until there is a surface passageway opened to get in heavy supplies there is no use going on accumulating a lot of supplies in tropical areas which have no prospect of delivery within a reasonable time. I feel certain if roads were opened that would accommodate heavy supplies, carbohydrates and other foodstuffs, supplies would be forthcoming very quickly from many parts of the world.
Question No. 11.
Would the Minister not consider that the only thing to deal properly with the very critical famine problem in Nigeria would be a cease-fire? Is the Minister further aware of the fact that it is stated in today's press that Mr. Wilson said yesterday in the British House of Commons that two Members of the British Parliament have gone to Nigeria on a fact-finding mission with the idea of initiating a cease-fire? Does he not consider that the Irish Government can do something on that line as well to save millions of people dying?
I do not think that two Members of the Dáil going out there could possibly assemble any more facts than we know. We know the stark, naked fact that the people in many parts of Nigeria, including Iboland, are in grave distress and I think the only way to bring that situation to an end is to have a cease-fire and peace.
Do something about it.
Is the Minister not quite well aware——
I am calling Question No. 11.
——of what is happening in that country and what assistance is he giving to try to obtain a cease-fire?