Biafra Was Starved, Not Just Bombed

BIAFRA WAS STARVED, NOT JUST BOMBED The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, was fought from 1967 to 1970. But the story was not only about battles, bombs, and soldiers. For civilians trapped inside Biafra, the war also became a struggle for food. As Biafra became increasingly isolated and supply routes were disrupted, food and medical supplies became desperately scarce. Malnutrition spread, with children among the worst affected. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) documented famine and extensive humanitarian needs during the conflict. Then came the dangerous night flights. Relief aircraft flew into places such as Uli, carrying food, medicines, and other emergency supplies. Some flights operated in darkness because of the dangers involved. ICRC records describe aircraft landing on improvised airstrips and carrying essential supplies into Biafra. The danger was real. On the night of 5–6 June 1969, a DC-7 made available by the Swedish Red Cross was shot down while flying relief supplies to Uli. All four crew members were killed. Yet the airlift continued. Joint Church Aid and other humanitarian organisations eventually operated thousands of relief flights into Biafra. One historical account records approximately 7,800 flights, including 5,310 operated by Joint Church Aid, carrying about 66,000 tons of relief supplies. This is the story of a war remembered not only for military confrontation, but also for hunger, displacement, humanitarian courage and civilians caught in the middle. Biafra was bombed. But Biafra was also isolated, its supplies restricted, and its people faced devastating hunger. #Biafra #NigerianCivilWar #BiafranWar #NigerianHistory #AfricanHistory #HistoryDocumentary #Uli #NollywoodHistory