New York. June 6
The efforts of the United Nations to mount an humanitarian relief operation in East Pakistan were continuing today but officials declined to specify how long it would be before the emergency action began.

In spite of the news reports of the urgent need for medical aid caused by the cholera epidemic, official information on the crisis was apparently slight. U Thant, the Secretary General, yesterday restricted himself to saying he was confident that substantial relief would be organized in East Pakistan in a very short time".

Mr. Ismat Kittani, an assistant Secretary General who is in West Pakistan to make contact with the Pakistan Government over the practicalities of the relief operation, is due to proceed to Dacca tomorrow.

A United Nations spokesman said that U Thant had received "encouraging reports" from Mr Kittani on the progress of his discussions. Mr Kittani is being accompanied to Dacca by Mr. Bahgat el-Tawil, who will act as the United Nations representative in the area and become the focal point for the coordination of the efforts of the various United Nations relief agencies.

In addition to the efforts being made in Pakistan, a total of $11.2m (£4.6m) has been contributed through multilateral channels to aid the refugees now in India. This includes $2m from Canada in the form of food, medical supplies and cash and substantial contributions from Britain and the United States. The emergency supplies are being shipped by the World Food Programme.