3. - usaid

The Resident Comnissioners were responsible for surveying their particular
zones to report progress or failure in relief operations to the whole commission
and to suggest methods of improvement in the care and welfare of
the rewees,
Ref'ugee Camps, Nutritional Clinics, Feeding Centers in Biafra
Camunity development projects, especially schools and town halls, had been
numerous in Biafra. Therefore, when the war broke out, many public buildiqgs
in the towns and rural areas were available for use by the hameless and for
provision of other essential services, Shelter for many months after the
onset of war was not a major problem,
In general, ref'ugee camps were set up in schools with not less than 250
persons per camp. Essential dormitory facilities, kitchen, latrine, bathroom,
lights, etc., were provided by voluntary comity effort, refue:eesq
labor and from official Biafmn administration sources, Each camp had a
register showing names, sex, and family units of people in the camp and
also a visitor's register, Camp directors were charged with providing
necessary inf'ormation on requirements of the refhgees such as food, clothing,
transport, fuel, accarmodations, medical needs and sources of personal incme.
Camp storekeepers maintained
registers of food
received and daily
rations issued, Each
camp was expected to be
closely integrated with
the comity in which
situated, since this
policy had enabled many
to meet some of their
problems by obtaining
land for vegetable
gardens and firewood
for cooking.
Biafian child on arrival Gabon for treatment 4/69
In my of 1968, when
kwashiorkor (severe
protein deficiency )
became prevalent among
reftgees in and out of
the 9 the
Rehabilitation Conmission
appointed a Special
Ccarmittee to study the situation and reconanend appropriate remedial measures,
The Cormlittee recomnended establishment of Nutritional Clinics or Feeding
Centers in all Biafran villws to offer protein-rich meals to all destitute
children, Village relief camittees were set up to stimlate local
food contributions and to achinister imported protein-rich food brought in
by the existing air bridges. The Biafran administrative machinery throughout
the enclave was involved in the civilian relief program. Every Frokincial