GENEVA, Nov 22: The United Nations urged wealthy Gulf oil producers on Tuesday to give money desperately needed to save hundreds of thousands of lives as winter closes in on quake-hit northern Pakistan.

Western donor countries have contributed or pledged $175 million towards a UN appeal for $550 million, about one-third, meaning relief operations are financed only for the next few weeks, UN emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland said.

Mr Egeland urged donors to ensure life-saving aid operations continue through the bitter, snowy winter stretching into April in mountainous Kashmir. From 100,000 to 150,000 people remain out of reach above the snowline.

Almost $6 billion for long-term reconstruction was raised by a major funding conference organised by Pakistan last weekend, but may never be used if earthquake survivors lacking food and shelter succumb to the Himalayan winter.

“Donors have to understand we need to get things in the right order,” Mr Egeland told a news conference in Geneva. “We have to save lives first and then get enough money to rebuild.”

“If there are five or six billion dollars now in the pipeline (for reconstruction), one should have been able to fund half a billion dollars in emergency relief,” he said.

The United States has been the largest contributor to the UN effort at $19.3 million, followed closely by Norway at $19.2 million, according to a UN table issued on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia is the only Gulf state among 22 countries to have contributed to the UN appeal, giving $3.2 million, according to UN spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs.

Mr Egeland said that his native Norway was seeking additional funds from parliament for the effort, which should ensure UN operations can continue to year-end. But other oil producing countries needed to share their wealth.

The UN is coordinating the work of 100 non-governmental aid agencies to provide shelter, water and sanitation, food and health needs.

“We are not at all out of the woods in emergency relief,” Egeland said. “We are making extraordinary progress, but winter is cruel and the task is bigger than anybody thought.”

Weather permitting, shelter kits for 10,000 families — about 70,000 people — will have been delivered by the end of November by helicopter for use in remote valleys above 5,000 feet, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said.

The IOM hopes to double the number, but needs $3.8 million by year-end through the U.N. appeal, according to Stephen Lennon, head of IOM’s emergency operations in Pakistan.—Reuters