Aid for Nigeria-Biafra War Victims Continues
Diocesan Press Service. January 6, 1969 [73-2]
NEW YORK, N. Y. -- The death rate among young victims of the Nigeria- Biafra war is lessening in some areas, according to the Rev. Canon Burgess Carr, Africa secretary for Inter-Church Aid of the World Council of Churches.
Canon Carr, a clergyman of the Episcopal Church in Liberia, recently spent two weeks touring the battle-torn area. He reported:
"In Igbere, I was told the death rate had vanished. At one of the camps I visited there were 58 deaths of children in September. There were only three deaths in the last six weeks. "
This improvement in camps, emergency hospitals or clinics, Canon Carr reported, "can be linked directly with the efficient Church-sponsored feeding and medical program. "
The situation in the villages where there are no camps or hospitals is deteriorating, however, Canon Carr said. There is shortage of local food and reports have been given by observers of the population eating half-grown crops.
Episcopalians are helping food, medicines, and other supplies get to the victims of this civil war through their contributions to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief. By December 25 they had contributed more than $241,000 toward the daily airlifts which deliver supplies directly into Biafra and the federal side in Nigeria.
While the original share set for the Episcopal Church in this international, ecumenical endeavor was $200,000, the Presiding Bishop has stated that "in view of the growing dimensions of this tragedy every dollar which is received beyond the original goal is equally needed and will be forwarded without delay. "