| Though the Red Cross were responsible for the distribution of parcels, and responsible for checking on the welfare of POWs etc, they were not the ones who actually produced the packages. Each country produced their own Red Cross Parcels, which were handed to RC reps, and who then, in theory, helped in the shipping and distribution. But in reality, the RC parcels would be transported to the holding country, and the holding country would be responsible for the distribution.
This often resulted in many POWs not receiving parcels because te Germans claimed that they didn't have the transport to do so, especially near the end of the war.
And POW parcels varied greatly - the US troops received the best, and the ones produced in Canada were also said to be pretty good.
The situation in Burma was due to the fact that Japan was not a signatory to the "Geneva" Convention and so the RC had no access to the prisoners.
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