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- इसका हिस्सा White House Staff Member and Office Files (Nixon Administration), President's Personal Files
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OCR Page 1 of 7THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
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(Bakshian) LH
November 30, 1973
FACT SHEET: RN APPEARANCE AT SOS CHARITY DESERT
BALL, SHERATON PARK HOTEL, NOVEMBER 30, 1973
Nature of Event: Charity ball to raise money for the six drought-
stricken African nations of the Sahel area (Chad, Mali, Mauritania,
Niger, Upper Volta and Senegal). Organized by the wives of the
ambassadors from the six countries. Ambassador S. Edward
Peal of Liberia, dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, will
introduce RN.
Background on Drought: The current disastrous drought cycle
began four years ago but the worst impact has been felt for the
past year. As a result of the drought, miles of previously arable
soil has reverted to desert -- become part of the Sahara. The
six countries affected (Ethiopia has also been struck to a lesser
degree) were already among the poorest in the world, and the
people most directly affected were the poorest of the poor --
nomands, poor herdsmen, women and children. Tens of thousands
have already been displaced.
General Relief Efforts: The six countries have banded together
as a committee, "Ouagadougou" (Interstate Committee to Save
the Sahel), and President Lamizana of Upper Volta, representing
them, has taken their case to the UN and also met with RN on
October 15. Other countries have contributed to the relief effort,
along with several private American groups, and the U.S.
Government.
U.S. Relief Efforts: So far, U.S. aid has counted for 35 percent
of the entire relief effort -- $47.2 million worth of assistance,
mostly in the form of food. Airlifts, medicines, animal feed,
animal vaccines and transportation have accounted for an estimated
$6 million of the total U.S. aid.
Charity Goal For Event: Ball organizers set a target figure of
$100 thousand but, as there is some doubt about reaching it, it
should not be mentioned. Admission for the ball was $50 a plate.
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