World Bank and other sources said today that recruiting for the new group has been under way for several weeks. According to these sources, the first contingent will comprise 38 members of a headquarters staff to be sent to Dacca.
A second contingent will comprise 45 members of specialized agencies. Unicef, the United Nations children's agency, for example, will send 18; the food and agriculture organization. 2; the World Food Program will send 13 and the world health organization 12. The third contingent-the radio-equipped monitors-will be made up of what are being called the United Nations “field personnel” Ismet Kittani. an Iraqi national is Assistant Secretary General for Inter-Agency Affaire, is Mr. Thant's deputy in charge of recruiting and dispatching the new force from United Nations headquarters in New York. Bag hat el-Tawil, an Egyptian who is Mr. That's personal representative in Dacca, will direct the operations in East Pakistan.
Thant 'Out on a Limb'
“The U.N. has no machinery and no budget for international disaster relief operations,” one source said. “U Thant has gone out on “a limb. That's why the U.S. has agreed to contribute an initial $1-million to get this thing moving.'
Other sources said that the expenses for the group might reach $3-million to $4million in its first six months of operation. The United States is hoping that other nations will contribute.
The Agency for International Development was said to have radios and other equipment on hand for dispatch by air once the Pakistani Government's formal approval is received. The agency has six staff members based in Dacca and is also reported ready to contribute technical assistance to the United Nations force.
Informants stressed that the United Nations force would concern itself primarily with helping the Pakistani authorities alleviate the threat of starvation and disease and with rehabilitating homes and shelter for millions who have cither fled into the countryside to escape the army's reprisals or whose homes have been wrecked.
They will also help Pakistan restore communications and remobilize the province's private fleet of 40.000 river boats and 10,000 trucks.
“The U.N. itself won't operate anything, but it will provide coaching and technical assistance and help restore confidence in the East Pakistani administration." one informant said.
