From Our Correspondent
Geneva, Oct 4
Much greater efforts and more generality are required from the international community on behalf of the East Pakistan refugees in India, who now number more than eight million, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, United Nations High Commissioner for refugees, said today.

Opening a new session of his executive committee he said “Interest must not slacken and apathy should not set in. The recent floods have had a devastating effect on the camps and distribution problems have added a new dimension to this tragedy. The fragile health of young and old will be further affected.”

This reference to distribution appeared to be an oblique reference to recent reported delays of several weeks in the carrying out of a Unicef supplementary feeding programme for an estimated 300,000 young children suffering from “moderate to severe advanced malnutrition”.

Prince Sadruddin pointed out that the United Nations’ role was restricted to taking action at international level for raising funds for assistance and contributions in kind. “We have subscribed to the express wishes of the Government of India and left the operational responsibility to the authorities,” he said.

He paid a tribute to “the countless Indian men and women who are joining together against frightening odds to bring succour to the refugees.”

Prince Sadruddin said that to date government contributions for the refugees come to about £48m. The flow of aid has dwindled to a comparative trickle since the end of July and a big increase is required if United Nations aid to the refugee camps is to be maintained

Rome.—The Vatican newspaper l’Osservatore Romano, devoted three of its eight pages today to an appeal for aid to East Pakistanis starving in refugee camps.

It devoted almost its entire front page to the Pope's appeal yesterday for a world day of fasting and prayer on behalf of the refugees, pushing the report on the international synod of bishops now meeting at the Vatican to three columns at the bottom of the page.

Paris.—A French Dominican priest, Father Jean-Yves Jolip, said after an eight-day visit to India and East Pakistan, that he was convinced that there could only be a military solution to the Bangla Desh problem.

Speaking at a press conference given under the auspices of the National Council for Peace movement, he said most East Pakistanis supported the Bangla Desh movement. The Bangla Desh Liberation Army had taken over two zones north-west of the Indian border, one of 844 square miles with a population of 85,000 and another of the same size 40 miles to the west.

Dacca.—Elections will take place in December and January for national and provincial Assembly seats declared vacant in East Pakistan when the Awami League was outlawed, the Pakistan Government announced.

Delhi.—Indian newspapers reported that the Pakistan Army was strengthening its forces and constructing new lines of defence on the border between West Pakistan and India.—UPI, Agence France Presse, AP and Reuter.