TNAG-0890-FCO40-1100-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 61

As in all wars, the fighting has brought further death,

destruction and severe economic dislocation to the most un-

fortunate country of Kampuchea. People moved westward by

Pol Pot years ago are being trucked back by the Vietnamese to

eastern regions. Urban residents moved to the countryside

under Pol Pot are trying to return to the cities, although

..

the Vietnamese appear to be preventing them from entering. People caught up in the fighting move randomly seeking safety, cross the border into Thailand, others to areas where the

fighting is less intense.

!

Obviously, there has been inattention to seasonal agri-

cultural tasks. Harvesting early in the year was not completed.

Planting, in advance of the rainy season, may have been only

partially initiated depending upon the region. Seed stocks

may have been consumed by migrant refugees or destroyed by

contending forces. As a result, certain normally rich

agricultural areas are beset by problems which could mean famine

later this year for the Kampuchean people in these regions.

We, and other concerned nations and international agencies

like the ICRC, UNICEF, and the World Food Program are carefully

monitoring the situation to determine how great the need and

how best to respond.

Any response to a food crisis in Kampuchea will have to

take into account two major factors.

First, food should be