ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The United Nations said on Tuesday that $45 million was urgently required to provide thermal protection to some 1.9 million earthquake survivors living below the snowline of 5,000 feet (1,524 metres).

The amount required includes the cost of transportation and distribution of relief items.

“Now our focus is on people below the snowline and those who aren’t living in tent camps. And we estimate that about 1.9 million people live in those areas,” UN humanitarian coordinator Jan Vandermoortele told at a press briefing.

Quoting a major assessment on shelter needs of victims below the snowline conducted through some 210 teams drawn from 11 humanitarian agencies, the coordinator said the needs were two-fold: additional thermal protection for people and structural support for tents.

For the thermal protection of people, he said, “we need 2.4 million blankets for those people who live below the snowline or 1.2 million quilts”.

On structural support for tents, he said, roofing and floor protections for tents were priorities.

According to Mr Vandermoortele, about 170,000 good quality plastic sheets were needed urgently to cover tents and 200,000 tarpaulins for tent floors.