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Background: Critically needed supplies on medicine, food and clothing are at last getting through to the tidal wave devastated area of East Pakistan. British, American and Pakistani helicopters have swung into action from a base at Patuakhali, about 150 miles (240 kms) southwest of Dacca on the perimeter of the devastated area.

It has taken more than a week since the cyclone and tidal wave struck for the relief operation to get into full swing. Over the past few days fears have mounted of starvation among survivors. Tons of supplies have been mounting at Dacca airport, awaiting transportation to the disaster area.

With the arrival of the British task force from Singapore and a build-up of relief equipment and manpower from other countries, the mountain of supplies will be removed to the devastated islands in the Bay of Bengal. Petrol supplies have been flown from Dacca to the British base at Patuakhali.

They'll be used to fuel smaller helicopters carrying out large sweeps of the islands to determine where the supplies are most urgently needed. American helicopters are carrying out similar operations from their base at Noakhali.