CHOLERA AND SMALLPOX REPORTED
The West Bengal state government reported today that cholera and smallpox had broken out among nearly half a million refugees who had fled to India from East Pakistan. The state commissioner for refugees, Benoy Mandal, appealed for foreign aid to meet the emergency.
Benoy Mandal told newsmen that 451,000 refugees had reached West Bengal. He said 107,000 were being accommodated in emergency camps and that 344,000 were staying with relatives and friends.
The situation is approaching the magnitude of a national disaster, Benoy Mandal said. It will cause a serious strain on India s national resources. But you may be assured that so long as we eat, so the refugees will eat.