"We estimate that about 45 million dollars is urgently required to provide additional thermal protection to about 1.9 million people," UN humanitarian coordinator Jan Vandemoortele told a press conference.

"Things are slowing down and we need to appeal to several of the donors, especially those who have not made the contributions."

Vandemoortele commended Britain, Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United States for contributing to the UN's flash appeal for 550 million dollars of emergency aid.

"Cash flow was better at the end of November but it needed to be sustained."

He said the UN focus was shifting to some 1.9 million survivors who live below the snowline of 5,000 feet (1,524 metres).

Most of the survivors living above the snowline, who were the first to get help from the humanitarian community, had been helped by the Pakistan military to rebuild parts of their home using material recovered from the rubble.

"The strategy has worked...job above the snowline is more or less under control, some pockets may have been left but we are ready to move in to zero in as soon as it comes to our attention with the necessary building kits, " he said.

Now the focus was on people below the snowline, Vandemoortele said.

He said additional thermal protection was needed for people as well as structural support for tents such as roofing and plastic sheeting.

The massive October 8 quake of 7.6 magnitude killed more than 73,000 people and made another 3.5 million homeless in Pakistani Kashmir and North Western Frontier Province.

The UN estimates that it needs 1.2 million quilts or 2.4 million winter-quality blankets to save people from the harsh winter, Vandemoortele said.

Additionally 17,000 plastic sheets and 200,000 tarpaulins were urgently required as 40 percent of tents did not have floor covers to keep them warm, he added.

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