The Pakistan Red Cross has invited the League of Red Cross Societies in Geneva to discuss channelling relief into East Pakistan, a move welcomed in London last night by British charities as “quite a breakthrough”

The five British charities in the field, Oxfam, War on Want, the Save the Children Fund, Christian Aid, and the British Red Cross Society will probably be able to go into East Pakistan themselves.

Sir Evelyn Shuckburgh, chairman of the Disasters Emergency Committee, said of the Pakistan invitation: “We hope this will put paid to the sad situation some , months ago when the committee of the Red Cross in Geneva was not allowed in.”

He added that the India-Pakistan Relief Fund had so far received a known £320,000 but 28 postal bags containing cheques had yet to be opened. When individual charities have handed over the money sent to them since the fund was launched a week ago, the total will probably be well over £500.000, but about £300,000 of this has already been spent.

Sir Evelyn read out a list of priorities received from the League of Red Cross Societies. They are: more transport, jet injectors, anti-cholera vaccine, saline solution, tents and tarpaulins.

The commitee was told of a great famine threat in East Pakistan. It was thought there was enough food for two months but the next 12 months might prove critical.