3. - usaid

By April 1, 1969, it was possible to report that delivery of food by the
combined air bridges of JCA and ICRC to Biafra had eliminated deaths f m
starvation. This did not mean the food rations were satisfactory. In fact,
there was barely enough Ngh protein-type food to meet the needs. It could
be said that the Biafran people were no longer ciying of starvation. However,
these airlifts had only provided food for imnediate distribution and were
insufficient to set up stocks inside Biafm. W'orcunately, military
action in June 1969 forced stop~ages or' the airlifts. Other means of delivering
supplies had not been resolved as of June 30, 1969.
Sumnary of JCA Air Deliveries
From March 1968 when Catholic and Protestant first regular relief flights
began through June 12, 1969 there were a total of 2,706 flights that
delivered 27,127 tons of supplies to Biafra. Total costs for 2,279 of
these flights frwn mid-August to April 30, 1969 were placed at about
$7 million. No credit is given under JCA for value of supplies delivered
or these operational costs. Czedit for this has been given under the
appropriate countries arid organizations who contributed to JCA operations.
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES
The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) was fomd in March
1962 in a merger of three international non-governmental coordinating
organizations working in the field of assistance to people in need. Its
membership is around 100 organizations, including Catholic, Protestant, and
Jewish agencies in various countries.
In a letter to certain governments concerning ICRC appeals for funds for
NigeriaBiafra relief, the Governing Board of ICVA recalled that mny of
its member voluntary agencies were active in the airlift and in massive
relief programs on both sides of the conflict to wNch ICVA gave full
support. In the letter, ICVA encouraged voluntary agencies and govemments
to respond generously and promptly to the appeals of ICRC for financing its
relief operations.
ASSISTANCE PROVIED BY U. S. VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OEBR U. S. PRIVATE AID
Voluntary agencies registered with the USC advisory cornnittee on Voluntary
Foreign Aid work in coordination with the U. S. Government in disaster
relief operations. This was true of the NigeriaBiafra relief operations.
However, the size of the propam involved other private U. S. relief. The
registered U. S. voluntary agencies and the American National Red Cross
are listed first followed by a separate list of contributions by other
groups. The American Jewish Cormittee is included with the registered
voluntary agencies because it is a member of JCA/USA and some of its member
organizations are registered.
Some of this infomtion has already appeared in this report, but it is
repeated here to identify it more explicitly with the voluntary agency
concerned, and to avoid the impression of an lncorrplete recital of its
generous humanitarian contributions .