876 to us. beeper They soid.tha hate cteinbl 1: hado drought. and. shortage of fresh water pubis ere dpking MOTCUT Tie coconut Hibhk Cian thev gph ordinarily. - OUTSIDE FEEDING PROGRAM FOR BIBINI RESIDENTE Mr. Yares. Did they eat the coconuts and did they drink the milk becaus vou weren't providing them with adequate food and water: Mr. Desc. I will have to defer to our friend: in Intepjor oreibes | War provided. - ° . Mr. Yates. Will somebody answer that? Who are his friends jn Interjor? -_ mM 1L. Lamnot sure. ij / MT. YATES. Dra. 1 \ that. riends. Mr. Yamrs. Somebody ought toanswer that question. Were vou on duty then. Mr. Winkel? When did you take office! Mr. Wixkr. I took office in June of 1977. . Mr. Yatra. Who did vou have in charge of this operation ? Mr. Winkex. ] was in charge of the operation. and under me the District Administrator was in charge of the operation. The feeding procram was initiated in October and November of 1977, and ample { food supplies to provide a halanced diet were delivered. have been delivered. Nutritionists accompanying these supplies and staving with the people for a period of time to help them and assist them in the utilization of the food and so forth. We have no reason to believe the food was not consumed, inasmuch as there is no evidence of unconsniuird quantities in anvsize at all, Mr. Yates. What kind of food did you deliver to them? Did vou al~o deliver water to them? Mr. Winkec. U.S. Department of Agriculture foods. and fresh foods from Ponape. and water was delivered. J do not know myself in what quantities. Perhap- the District Administrator could respond to that. because he has accomnanied one of the shipments in the first instance. Mr. Yates. Lot's hear from him. ar eare trving to find out ie whe they went back ta the coconuts and the wilk ot Giere Marhedagainst tating the coconuts andthe 1 Pope mike Tange peBrra. J am the Deputy Administrator of the Marshall slands. Coconut is something that the people can see. They will drink the milk. They do that even when we visit the island periodically. Thev offer us coconuts to drink. so as long as they have coconuts in their surroundings. I do believe that they will drink it. Mr. Yates. Evenin the face of warnings not to drink it? Mr.O. neBrum. Yes, sir. Mr. Yates. Then thev continue to eat the coconut and drink the milk and eat the food that the government gives them. Mr. O. neBrua. The last time I was there they were still eating the coconuts, They have been told not to eat them. To stop them from eat: ing that. sir, we have to remove the people fromthe islands or cut down the total number of trees. Mr. Yates. That is the only way you can do it. DOE ARCHIVES sa07411 ™