PARKED AIRCRAFT; RED CROSS VEHICLES AWAIT AIRLIFT; AIRCRAFT LOADED FROM LORRY; REFUGEES WAIT AT AIRPORT; REFUGEES CROSS TARMAC AND UP STEPS OF AIRCRAFT; AIRCRAFT; AIRCRAFT TAXIES AND TAKES OFF.




Initials


NOTE TO EDITORS: PLEASE REFER TO PRODUCTION NUMBER 11024/D/68: "FERNANDO PO AND EASTERN NIGERIA: RED CROSS AIRLIFT SUPPLIES FOR STARVING REFUGEES IN EASTERN NIGERIA." SERVICED ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1968.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE SAYS IT URGENTLY NEEDS MORE THAN THREE MILLION POUNDS TO SAVE ITS RELIEF OPERATION IN NIGERIA AND THE BREAKAWAY EASTERN STATE OF BIAFRA FROM COLLAPSE. THE COMMITTEE TODAY (SATURDAY) WELCOMED PLEDGES OF SUBSTANTIAL SUMS FROM THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN AND WEST GERMANY, AND SAID ITS RELIEF PROGRAMME FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS WOULD COVER THE DISTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN 10 MILLION POUNDS WORTH OF FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

IN THIS FILM RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM THE ICRC, THE PREPARATIONS FOR SOME OF THE RELIEF FLIGHTS ARE SHOWN. USING A VARIETY OF AIRCRAFT, THE ICRC, FLY FROM THE AIRPORT AT SANTA ISABEL, IN FERNANDO PO, AN ISLAND ADMINISTERED BY SPAIN, ABOUT 20 MILES OFF THE AFRICAN COAST. AS WELL AS FOOD SUPPLIES, RED CROSS VEHICLES ARE FLOWN IN ON FLIGHTS TIMED TO LAND IN BIAFRA UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT ARE UNLOADED, THE SUPPLIES ARE PLACED ABOARD VEHICLES AND SENT FOR DISTRIBUTION.

ALREADY AID FROM ALL SOURCES DISTRIBUTED BY THE RED CROSS HAS GREATLY REDUCED THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE AMONG 1,450,000 REFUGEES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT.

BUT, THE ICRC ADDS, THE NEEDS ARE STILL ENORMOUS AND INCREASING DAILY AT AND ALARMING RATE. AS PART OF THEIR BID TO RAISE FUNDS, THE NATIONAL RED CROSS SOCIETIES HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO ENLIST SUPPORT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENTS TO LAUNCH PUBLIC APPEALS.

THE CRASH PROGRAMMED FOR THE NIGERIA-BIAFRA WAS VICTIMS HAS BECOME THE ICRC'S BIGGEST OPERATION MOUNTED SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.