Bishop Advocates Airlift for Biafra
Diocesan Press Service. February 7, 1969 [74-5]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The only effective solution to the plight of the victims of the Nigerian/Biafran conflict would be a massive airlift, according to the Rt. Rev. C. Edward Crowther, former Bishop of the South African Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, on his return from a tour of the war-torn area.
The people involved in the present relief efforts, sponsored by Churches and other concerned organizations throughout the world, are doing their job well,- said the Bishop, "but there are not enough people involved to do a competent job."
The victims of this war need 2,000 tons of food a day, Bishop Crowther said, but they are only getting 120-130 tons a day through relief flights.
He said there is every danger that many thousands of Biafrans will starve to death.
"The lifeline to Biafra is a very thin one and one that could be snapped at any moment because the lifeline to Biafra is the airlift which is sponsored by many Churches and by many concerned organizations throughout the world."
"However bad it is today, tomorrow is going to be so much worse, and tomorrow and tomorrow, " the Bishop said in describing the starvation, refugee problem and war damage in Biafra.
He explained that the present protein shortage will soon be followed by a carbohydrate shortage and that carbohydrates are bulkier and harder to ship.
He did, however, see a hope:
" The United States could ease the situation tomorrow. If we were to apply our resources for taking food by direct airlift in non-military transportation to the Biafran people we could resolve the situation tomorrow."
He cited the Berlin airlift as an example of what could be done.
The Bishop expressed his belief that the only solution to the war was a nonmilitary one. If the Nigerian army won the conflict "all it would inherit is a continuing bush, jungle, guerrilla warfare," he stated.
"There has to be a cease fire . . . . The United States, for one, should bring political pressure, I repeat, political pressure, to bear on Great Britain who, I believe, could stop the war next week if they so desired. . . A great deal of political good could come from the United States using its muscle."
The Nigerians and the Biafrans view the conflict in different lights, according to Bishop Crowther.
"The Nigerian views Biafra as a rebellious part of Nigeria, and they are aiming to put down what they regard as a secession and a rebellion. . . . Biafra economically is very important because of vast oil reserves. Nigeria minus Biafra would be a very much poorer Nigeria than Nigeria with Biafra."
"The economic viability of the Nigerian Federation depends to a very large extent on Biafra's membership in that federation."
The Bishop said the Biafrans "believe they are fighting for their very lives. . . . They believe the only way they can survive as a people -- with their own language, their own culture, their own history -- is to completely break away from Nigeria, to go it alone."
The Ibos of Biafra claim genocidal intent on the part of Nigerians and many, according to Bishop Crowther, also view the war as a religious one.
"The Ibo attitude is that this is very definitely a religious war, that the Moslem North has declared a holy war against the Christian East. There is evidence," he said, "that Nigerian Moslems have embarked on a campaign to slaughter Christians whenever they get the opportunity to do so and to desecrate Christian churches."