"PLUTO" IN HARBOUR: SUPPLIES BROUGHT TO DOCK SIDE: SUPPLIES WITH INSCRIPTION "PRODUCE OF ICELAND" SUPPLIES LOADED BY CRANE: CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP TALKS TO RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVE: SUPPLIES LOWERED INTO HOLD




Initials JH/V/MR/PS


EDITORS: THIS FILM HAS NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN SANTA ISABEL, ON THE ISLAND OF FERNADO PO, THE MOTORSHIP "PLUTO" HAS BEEN LOADING UP WITH FOOD SUPPLIES FOR VICTIMS OF THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SHIP, EXPECTED SOON, WILL MARK THE END OF INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS RELIEF OPERATIONS FROM ITS ISLAND BASE.

EARLIER IN THIS WEEK, LOCAL PEOPLE IN SANTA ISABEL BEGAN LOADING THE "PLUTO" WITH A CARGO OF 400 TONS (APPROXIMATELY 406 METRIC TONS) OF STOCKFISH DESTINED FOR NIGERIA. SOME OF THE STOCKFISH HAD COME FROM ICELAND.

DURING THE LOADING PREPARATIONS, THE RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVE, MR. SANTCHY, SPOKE TO THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN, MR. KINNE.

THE "PLUTO" A WEST GERMAN COASTER OF 800 TONS (APPROX. 813 METRIC TONS), WAS PROVIDED BY THE WEST GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS. THE SHIP FIRST ARRIVED IN THE AREA LAST APRIL AND HAS ALREADY CARRIED AN ESTIMATED 10,000 TONS (APPROXIMATELY 10,160 METRIC TONS) OF SUPPLIES FOR WAR-TORN NIGERIA. THE DESTINATION OF THE "PLUTO" HAS YET TO BE ANNOUNCED.

THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS, WHO WERE OPERATING OUT OF FERNANDO PO BY SEPTEMBER, 1968, WILL SHORTLY BE MOVING THE RELIEF OPERATIONS, REPORTEDLY TO CONTONOU IN DAHOMEY. THE MOVE HAS BEEN PLANNED TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY IN DISTRIBUTION TO PEOPLE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RECENTLY ENDED WAR.

IN THE PAST, FERNANDO PO WAS A BASE FOR THE RED CROSS AIRLIFT INTO NIGERIA WHICH WAS STOPPED IN APRIL, 1969.