The Biafra Relief Services Foundation sent a DC-8 jet to Biafra today with $350,000 worth of medicine, medical and surgical supplies, food and children’s clothing. Abie Nathan, the Israeli peace pilot, was aboard the chartered airplane as coordinator of the mercy mission to the children of Biafra. Members of the Canadian, Dutch and Danish Parliaments, as well as newsmen, were accompanying the flight.
The medicine and medical supplies were collected from a number of American companies by the B’nai B’rith Foundation and the International Rescue Committee. The Biafra Relief Services Foundation raised $45,000 to pay for the cost of the plane flight. Much of the money consisted of small contributions from individuals, many of them young persons. Students at a number of colleges and high schools conducted special fund-raising campaigns to help pay for the charter. Commenting on the student campaigns, Mr. Nathan said that “the young people of America have demonstrated their idealism and dedication.”
This was Mr. Nathan’s second mercy flight to Biafra from the United States. On his first flight, which left New York Sept. 29, he brought $250,000 worth of drugs and 30,000 pounds of high-protein foods to the Chief Government Pharmacist of Biafra, Caritas Internationale and World Church Service, for distribution to hospitals, clinics and refugee camps. The same agencies will receive the second cargo.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
