Foreign Relations, Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972
Released by the Office of the Historian

 

MEMORANDUM

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

INFORMATION
July 15, 1972

MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT

FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER

SUBJECT: Relief Assistance Totals for Bangladesh

The following are the totals on relief assistance for Bangladesh from January 1 through June 30, 1972, as compiled by the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca:

Contributions from 20 other nations, the EEC and private sources     $533.64 million

Contributions from the USA $263.27 million

Total Contributions $796.91 million

The U.S. contribution thus stands at 33% of the total international contribution, which was the share approved by you in February.

The composition of the U.S. contribution is as follows:

To U.S. Voluntary Agencies $ 14.94 million
To UN Relief Operation         $ 35.30 million
To the Government of Bangladesh $115.00 million
Other (transportation)         $ 7.28 million
PL 480                         $ 90.75 million

Total                         $263.27 million

The bilateral grants to the Bangladesh government were made at the end of May and in June after your instruction to provide as much of our assistance as possible bilaterally. The recognition of Bangladesh on April 5 had made it possible to begin making that shift from the UN channel.