will remain at manageable levels.
This increases the
importance of assuring the first-asylum countries of our
commitment to them, as well as the importance of working with
the Vietnamese on a program of orderly departure as an
alternative to escape by boat. I will have more to say
about both these issues later.
Second, the plight of the land refugees from both Laos
and Kampuchea is increasingly desperate. The outflow from
Laos has continued at a rate of several thousand a month.
The situation in Kampuchea is even more devastating,
both from the point of view of the internal
conditions and
the potential impact on the refugee flow into Thailand.
Recent news reports indicate that several thousand refugees
are now streaming across the border. Within Kampuchea,
the crisis is intensifying as renewed military operations
between the Heng Samrin and Pol Pot forces contribute to the
uprooting, economic deprivation, and starvation experienced
by the beleaguered civilian population. We believe that
steps must be taken immediately to alleviate this monstrous
human tragedy and to prevent further famine, disease, and
flight. The very existence of an entire people is at stake.
We are encouraged that authorities in Kampuchea have
granted permission to the International Committee of the Red
Cross and the United Nations Children's Fund to open a
liaison office in Phnom Penh for an international relief effort.
As President Carter announced on Tuesday, the United States
is ready to contribute funds and commodity food stocks.
initial response to the urgent needs identified by these two
humanitarian organizations, the United States is commiting 7
million dollars, of which 5 million would be for 10,000 metric
tons of Food for Peace commodities and 2 million in cash. We shall
carefully study the further ICRC/UNICEF appeal to determine what
else we can do to help.
As an
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