EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001302230034-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 23, 2009
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: December 12, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2009/04/23: CIA-RDP85M00364R001302230034-7
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L)UINF IULIN I IHL SYSTEM II
91452
THE WHITE HOUSE
Executive Registry
December 12, 1983 G'j 60
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MEMORANDUM FOR THE HONORABLE GEORGE P. SHULTZ
The Secretary of State
THE HONORABLE CASPAR W. WEINBERGER
The Secretary of Defense
SUBJECT: Emergency Relief Efforts in Central America (U)
Continued economic decline and increased guerrilla violence in
Central America has significantly exacerbated the sufferinc,of
the people in the region. These victims of oppression, poverty
. and violence have all but exhausted the meager resources of those
attempting to provide for even basic human needs. (C)
In Honduras and Costa Rica, those fleeing the repressive regime
in Managua. have exceeded the ability of these governments to
furnish even minimal food, shelter, or urgently needed medicines.
In El Salvador, the upsurge in guerrilla activity has resulted in
a ,new surge of displaced persons looking into already overcrowded'
"camps." These refugees and displaced persons have not only
created a condition of near term human tragedy, but a potentially
explosive security .problem as well. The President has determined
that this has created an emergency situation in Honduras, Costa
.Rica and El Salvador which requires urgent action on our part.
(C)
In.response to the President's direction, we should.seek to
immediately develop a capability to collect, deliver and dis-
tribute emergency supplies of food, medicine, and clothing for
the increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons in
Honduras, Costa Rica-and El Salvador. Dr. William Walsh of
Project Hope has offered to act as a focal point for coordinating
the cooperation from private volunteer. organizations and in-
dividuals who wish to contribute. It is important, however, that
we be able to provide responsive deliveries for items received,
using DOD assets. To this end, it is requested that the
Department of Defense, in coordination with the Department of
State's Inter-Agency Group on Assistance to Refugees and
Displaced Persons in Central America, develop a means of collect-
ing, delivering and distributing emergency relief supplies
collected by volunteer organizations for.use in Central
America. (C)
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassify on: OADR
GOfdFIDENI iuL
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CONFIDENTIAL
The President would like to announce this program in a public
address or in a Saturday radio talk during the holiday season.
Our objective is to provide a meaningful program, responsive to
the emergency situation which exists in the region. Your
assistance in this urgent endeavor is appreciated. (C)
cc: William J. Casey, DCI
Peter McPherson, AID
Ambassador Eugene Douglas
CONE IDE MT I AL
Approved For Release 2009/04/23: CIA-RDP85M00364R001302230034-7