The United States through its Agency for International Development has made a massive effort to rush relief supplies to the devastated area of East Pakistan which was hit by the typhoon and tidal wave in mid-November. AID, along with other U.S. voluntary agencies, donated food, clothing, medicine, blankets, water purification tablets and personal hygiene kits. Illiterate farmers left their thumb prints as a record of receiving rice during the distribution of relief food in community centers. After the initial air drops of food to stave off the danger of starvation in some remote areas, the distribution of food was carried out by Pakistani officials in an orderly and efficient manner.