wise, allowances of powered milk and such suitable other foods as may
be available are distributed in infants on the basis of determinations
made in the Agency's pediatric clinics. Older children of pre-school
age receive one meal daily in day nurseries.
At present the issuance of "buoni viveri" is more prevalent in Sicily.
On the mainland it is rarely used.
In April 1944 the Italian Government adopted a decree causing the ECA
Committee to be directed by the Comunale Gianta and providing that the
Committee should choose its own president. This change of
administration has not taken effet in all provinces.
The prefect of the province is responsible for the operation of the
ECA's in his province, and it is his obligation to see that necessary
food and money are supplied and that the agencies function effectively.
In the National Government supervision of ECA centers is the Director
General of Civil Administration, Minister of the Interior.
The "Opera Nazionale Maternita ed Infanza" (ONMI) is a paristatal
agency with headquarters in Rome and with provincial and communal
branches. Food is provided for the ECA and the ONMI through regular
alimentation channels. Funds are provided by the Italian Government
for these operations i the released areas. These funds, at the
national level in the released area, are provided through the Minister
of the Interior.
The policy of the ACC is to place in operation in each commune the ECA
for the purpose of granting relief to the destitute population. ACC
has set no general rule regarding the operation of soup kitchens by
the ECA. The matter is left to the local authorities. Most soup
kitchens operate