ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, FATHER BYRNE OF CARITAS, WITH ORPHANED BIAFRAN CHILDREN, AT HOSPITAL ON ISLAND OF SAO TOME OFF NIGERIAN COAST; SHIP "ORIENT EXPORTER" UNLOADING UNICEF SUPPLIES AT SAO TOME; MEN UNLOADING BAGS; AIRCRAFT LINED UP TO FLY SUPPLIES INTO NIGERIA.




Initials RM/V/AS/MJB



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Background: IT'S REPORTED FROM LAGOS TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT CIVIL WAR REFUGEES IN THE SOUTH EASTERN STATES OF NIGERIA, FORMALLY UNDER BIAFRAN CONTROL, ARE SO HUNGRY THAT TROOPS HAVE BEEN CALLED IN TO CONTROL SQUABBLING CROWDS AT RED CROSS RELIEF CENTRES SET UP THERE. THE OTHER MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING RELIEF SUPPLIES ARF CARITAS, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC AGENCY, AND UNICEF OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

MUCH OF THE FOOD REACHING THE STARVING REFUGEES IS FLOWN TO THE FORMERLY BIAFRAN-HELD AREAS OF NIGERIA FROM THE PORTUGUESE ISLAND OF SAO TOME, OFF THE COAST OF NIGERIA. THE RELIEF WORKERS ARE BRINGING BACK TO THE ISLAND STARVING ORPHANED CHILDREN AND INSTALLING THEM AT THE ISLAND HOSPITAL. ANOTHER 20 ORPHANS WERE FLOWN IN RECENTLY AND THERE ARE NOW 70 AT PRESENT AT THE HOSPITAL, WHERE THEY ARE BEING LOOKED AFTER BY THE PRIESTS OF THE CARITAS ORGANISATION.

MEANWHILE, IT'S REPORTED THAT THE FEDERAL NIGERIAN FORCES WERE TODAY ONLY ABOUT 10 MILES (16 KMS) EAST OF THE OBILAGU (UTURU) AIRSTRIP, WHICH RED CROSS OFFICIALS ARE USING TO AIR LIFT RELIEF SUPPLIES INTO THE REMNANTS OF BIAFRAN-HELD TERRITORY. RED CROSS CENTRES SET UP IN AREAS ALREADY RETAKEN FROM BIAFRAN CONTROL BY THE FEDERAL FORCES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY SWAMPED BY STARVING REFUGEES. THERE ARE SOME 250,000 REFUGEES REGISTERED AT THE RELIEF CENTRES, WHILE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF STARVING PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE HIDING IN THE BUSH.

ON MONDAY, IT WAS ESTIMATED BY A MEMBER OF THE RELIEF STAFF OF THE RED CROSS IN THE AREA THAT ONLY 200 TONS OF FOOD AND MEDICINE A WEEK ARE REACHING THE HALF-MILLION STARVING PEOPLE IN THE RETAKEN AREAS.