THIRD MEETING
TROISIEME SEANCE
TERCERA SESION

(23 November 1977)

The Tnird Meeting was opened at 15.10 hours
S. Boolell, Chairman of Commission III, presiding

La troisième seance est ouverte à 15 h 10,
sous la présidence de S. Boolell, Président de la Commission III

Se abre la tercera sesión a las 15.10 horas,
bàjo" la presidencia de S. Boolell, Presidente de la Comisión III

CHAIRMAN: Before we start with the agenda I invite the Director-General to make a statement.

CYCLONE DISASTER IN INDIA
DESASTREPROVOQUE PAR UN CYCLONE EN INDE
LA CATASTROFE DEL CICLON EN INDIA

DIRECTOR-GENERAL: All of us here, I am sure, have read with a deep sense of sorrow the reports of the death toll that the cyclones have left in their trail in the And'ra Pradesh, Tamail Nadu and Kamataka, states of India. It will be some time before we have on hand the exact death toll and damage reports, but it is already clear, from the preliminary despatches, that this has been a disaster of harsh proportions.

Through the delegation of India, here present, we wish to convey, to the Government and the people of India, our sincerest sympathy. FAO stands ready to assist, within its modest capabilities, in whatever way it can, to help in the tremendous rehabilitation task that lies ahead.

May I also appeal to other nations and institutions to join us in this task of swift rehabilitation in the knowledgethat promptly extended help is help doubled.

CHAIRMAN:In my capacity as Chairman of this Commission I wish to associate myself with the words of sympathy expressed by the Director-General and the appeal he has launched to come to the help of those people who have suffered from the cyclone in India.

RAMADHAR (India): My delegation is really moved by the feelings and sentiments expressed by the Director-General and also endorsed by you, Mr. Chairman.

This has been a very great catastrophe in that part of the country which was not prone to cyclones earlier.I will be conveying the wishes of this House, including that of the Director-General and you, Mr. Chairman, to my Government and I am sure that the feelings expressed here will give and will instill a sense of support to all those who have suffered in this,