3. - usaid

Even though the end of the conflict is not in sight, the WG has already
taken a look ahead to post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation. At a conference
in Sbadan, Nigeria in April. of 1969, planning was initiated for a
new four year period from 1969 through 1972 which contemplated an investment
of $3.26 billion from federal, state, and private sources, not including
the oil industry. About $500 million of this was anticipated as needed for
a variety of projects from emergency relief through road reconstruction to
education and agricultural credit.
For some of the current reconstmction and relief, however, the mvIG sought
and obtained assistance from the U. S. Government for road repairs, operation
of ref'ugee schools, repair of damaged bridges, equipment and staff for
restoration of hospital services, improvement in water systems, food production,
coxmmmity development and physical rehabilitation projects.
On June 30, 1969, the FlvlG relieved ICRC of its over-all coordinating and
operational relief role and assigned this responsibility to the National
Conmission for Relief and Rehabilitation. ICRC hwnanitarian relief is
continuing but plans for its phasing out are underway.
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE: U.
S. G O V E m
The United States Government has made commitments of food, medicines,
vehicles and cash for relief operations totaling $65,996,300. The
following covers U. S. policy on assistance to Nigeria, a chronology on
USG energency relief operations, the role of AID Disaster Relief Coordinator
(Dm), appointment of a special coordinator, and a record of Agency for
International Development contr:~butions.
Policy
The policy of the United States is to provide relief to civilian victims on
both sides of the conflict, regardless of political association or physical
location. USG emergency aid has been channeled through international
organizations and U. S. voluntary agencies. In addition, direct support
was provided for the International Committee of the.Red Cross, as the major
coordina.ting agent for relief to both sides.
Chronolom of U. S. Relief merations
United States assistance to the victims of the civil war in Nigeria began
in 1967, when Catholic Relief Services diverted 187,800 pounds of P.L. 480
food valued at $17,589 to the displaced people. During the same period,
the USG paid airlift costs of $385 for antibiotics and other medicaments
donated by the American Red Cross.
Early in 1968 as conditions worsened and reports came in about the increasing
numbers of victims in need of food, the USG made plans with Catholic Relief
Services, UNICEF, and Church World Service for a large scale P.L. 480
emergency food program to be operated through the International Committee
of the Red Cross.