UN warns paucity of funds could affect relief work

The United Nations said on Tuesday donations in response to its flash appeal for October 8 earthquake had recorded a considerable decline in December and warned it could affect the ongoing relief operation in coming months.
"We received less than one-third of donations in December as compared to last month. I appeal to all those countries that have not contributed yet to make sure their contributions now," UN resident co-ordinator Jan Vandemoortele said at a news briefing here.
The UN would soon be appointing a special envoy for quake-affected areas to streamline funding and persuade the donor community for generous donations, he added.
The world body needed another $45 million to provide blankets, quilts and plastic sheets. In the ongoing operation "Winter Race", a 'top-down' strategy was adopted with people living at higher elevations were provided help first by the humanitarian community and the Pakistan army for re-erecting parts of their dwelling, using material recovered from the rubble on priority basis, he said.
He said as the coverage of households above 5,000 feet was nearing completion (iron sheets were being delivered), the Shelter Cluster has initiated an assessment to obtain quantitative and qualitative data on the adequacy of tented shelter for the people living below 5,000 feet.
The study suggested about three-quarter of households, currently residing in tents below 5,000 feet outside planned camps, required additional support in terms of structural and thermal protection to escape from winter, he added.
It was estimated that 2.4 million winter-quality blankets or 1.2 million quilts are urgently needed which would cost $31 million, the UN co-ordinator said.
He added another 170,000 plastic sheets of international quality would be required, particularly for roofing/protection from rain and snow that would cost $4.5 million.
Some 200,000 tarpaulins or equivalent plastic sheets were required for floor insulation in addition to those required for roof protection. Each tarpaulin costs approximately $35, excluding transport cost, he said quoting the study.
While an estimated 30,000 tents needed structural support or needed to be replaced. However, there are already sufficient tents in the pipeline to cover this need.
The UN co-ordinator said Norway, England, USA, Sweden and Canada were among countries that have provided more than $10 million on UN appeal.
"We expect the European Union, France, Italy and Japan will also show the same spirit to alleviate sufferings of the destitute," he said. He said China provided the best winterised tents.
He said 44 helicopters were taking part in the relief supply operation while another 20 were in the backup. $50 to 60 million were needed per month to keep these choppers flying but the UN badly needed funds to carry on the logistic operation in January.