3. - usaid

has been undertaken by Ghana, Nepal and Pakistan this year. Other countries
which have reported progress along these lines are: India, Brazil, Chile,
Trinidad, Curacao and Ecuador. Previous reports mentioned other country
pre-disas ter planning.
United Nations
The General Assembly of the UN on December 19, 1968, adopted Resolution 2435
(XXIII), extended its disaster assistance authority for three more years.
Under it the Secretary-General may contbue to draw on the Working Capital
Fund in the amount of $100,000 per year with a ceiling of $20,000 per country
in the case of any one natural disaster. The United States urged the UN to
extend disaster relief and preparedness. A new paragraph 8 provides that
the UN can be of assistance to govements in connection with pre-disaster
planning and disaster preparations.
During 1968 the UN provided tents for emergency housing following the
earthquake in Iran; corrugated iron roofing for emergency housing in Costa
Rica after the volcanic eruption; and in January 1969 roofing for emergency
housing &er floods in the Syrian Arab Republic.
East Pakistan -Disaster
Planning
Extremely severe cyclones and floods strike Pakistan practically every
year. The Government of Pakistan and USAID have been worm together on
master preparedness planning since 1960. This year, for the first time
in history, a radar equipped meteorological station is now operating in
East Pakistan. Its warnings go to the people via a systematic commication
net worked out and put into use by the League of Red Cross Societies
and the Swedish Welfare Service. Many others helped, including Rotary
International, who sponsored sen- Dr. Gordon Dunn, eminent meteorologist
and AID/DRC consultant to East Pakistan to advise on use of this radar
facility in storm forecasting.
As a contributim to understanding the cyclone/hUTTicane problem, the
plight of the people, and how science and humanitarian relief are coormted,
a separate paper is being prepared for distribution this year
froanthe AID/DRC office.
Leaeue of Red Cross Societies
UCRQSS is responding to the United Natlons resolution on disaster preparedness
by enlarging its staff in Geneva. It is offering advice and
assistance on all aspects of disaster pre-planning. It is working on
establishment of model "Relief Plans" for use by National Red Cross
Societies and governments. In addition, teams of disaster technicians,
training programs, and emergency cmmriicatians facilities are being proposed.