More than 3000 Harvard undergraduates joined thousands of students from area colleges yesterday in a fast to raise money for starving refugees, principally in Cambodia.

"We've had terrific response to the fast this year, obviously precipitated by the Cambodian debacle," Savannah Shutt, coordinator of the fast for OXFAM, an international relief agency, said. "This has been a very significant increase in participation this year as compared to past years of the fast," she added.

Harvard organizers of the fast expect to raise $5000 from the event and related contributions. Students at Boston College have contributed $11.000 and undergraduates at Tufts University approved a referendum this week to send $5000 to OXFAM from the university's student activity fund.

OXFAM expects to collect more money from contributions and yesterday's fast at both Boston University and Tufts. A group of M I T chaplains expects to raise $1500 and a committee at B.U. hopes to collect between $3000 and $4000 for relief efforts.

Members of the Harvard Hunger Action Committee (HHAC), noted a high consciousness on the Cambodian situation and an encouraging response to the fast effort. "Once students recovered from the shock of what's happening, they've gotten more and more upset and are realizing that money must be made somehow." Manva Blumberg '81, a member of the HHAC said yesterday. "The participation in the fast has been really, really excellent, more than ever before, as two-thirds of the student body responded in some way." Carina Campobasso '81, another member of the group, added.