CALABAR AND UYO, EASTERN NIGERIA (SEPTEMBER 20-22, 1968) (REUTERS)

HELICOPTER LOADED
PILOT
AERIAL VIEWS UYO
REFUGEES WAITING
HELICOPTER UNLOADED
REFUGEES AND CHILDREN EATING
REFUGEES LEAVE.

Initials GHB/VS/CR/PC
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Background: ONE OF TWO SIKORSKY-S-55 HELICOPTERS SUPPLIED TO THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BY THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS' EMERGENCY FUND (UNICEF) IS CURRENTLY FERRYING FOOD SUPPLIES FROM CALABAR TO UYO, A MARKET TOWN HOUSING THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES.
ANOTHER UNICEF HELICOPTER CRASHED AT BENIN LAST WEEK WHEN ON ITS WAY TO CALABAR. THE REMAINING VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING ABOUT SEVEN FLIGHTS DAILY TO REFUGEE CENTRES CARRYING APPROXIMATELY ONE TON OF FOOD ON EACH TRIP.
REPORTS LAST WEEK INDICATED THAT CENTRES SET UP IN AREAS RETAKEN FROM BIAFRAN CONTROL BY THE FEDERAL FORCES HAD BEEN SWAMPED BY REFUGEES NEAR TO STARVATION. THERE ARE ABOUT 250,000 REFUGEES REGISTERED AT THE RELIEF CENTRES WHILE AN EQUAL NUMBER ARE BELIEVED TO ??? ???HIDING IN THE BUSH.
RED CROSS AND THEIR OFFICIALS IN THE SOUTHERN PORT OF CALABAR SAY THAT ALTHOUGH SUPPLY FACILITIES HAVE IMPROVED, THE NEED FOR MORE FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES IS STILL DESPERATE.