INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID

Chronicle (Levin), 29 October 1946, Page 2

INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID

Received Monday, S.30 p.m. ) NEW YORK, Oct. 28. Cenjjial and Eastern Eixrope, ltaly ancF5liina may face a food crisis and subsequent economic relapse in 1947 unless international aid is planned immediately, according to a report submitted to United Nations by Unrra covering the distribution of 3,500,000,000 dollars worth of supplies, mostly to ten countries. The report claimed that Unrra had averted starvation and helped to start these countries on the road to economic recovery, but all would need .lielp in linancing the neeessa-ry food^and other imports next year after Unrra goes out of business. Unrra ;s overall programme was tlireefold greater than the postwar relief programme wltich followed the first world war and included more tlian 1,000,000,000 dollars worth of equipment to rehabilitate national economies. The results aclvieved marked only tlie very first steps in the rebuilding of natiohal economies and restoring international trade. Estimates from Greece, Yugoslavia, Czeclioslovakia, Poland, ltaly and Russia indicated that these countries in 1947 expect to buy tlieir imports with export revenues only hait tlieir prewar volume. Gonsiderable assistauce would be needed in the fofia of loans and grants to prevent the festriction of imports to the point of severe hardships..