The United Nations increased its South Asia Earthquake Flash Appeal by 238 million dollars to 550 million dollars for the initial six-month emergency response period, the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Wednesday.

As the scope and size of the Oct. 8 tragedy becomes dramatically clearer, OCHA stressed the need for increased logistical air support to deliver life-saving supplies.

"It is essential to note that only a few weeks remain before the arrival of winter," said OCHA in a press release. "Thousands of injured, dehydrated and undernourished survivors sheltering in fields in makeshift shelters or in the open air in temperatures below zero are likely to die unless they can be reached before the harsh mountain winter sets in."

The United Nations and its partners have now increased their estimate of people in need of immediate assistance to at least 1.6 to 2 million from 1 million, said OCHA.

Those affected urgently require winterized shelter, medical care, food, and water and sanitation facilities, which must be delivered via commensurate logistics capacity and resources, it added.

"Eighteen days after the earthquake, the unfolding picture reveals levels of human and economic devastation unprecedented in the history of the subcontinent," OCHA said. "Even considering what has already been delivered or is in the pipeline, as many as 1.5 million people may face the winter without emergency shelter of any kind."

Thousands of injured have not yet been treated and their injuries, although treatable, are likely to prove fatal if they are not reached within days, OCHA added.

OCHA pointed out that 67 per cent of the overall increase is attributable to the extraordinary logistical requirements imposed by the inaccessible terrain.

While over 100 international organizations, including the UN search and rescue teams, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and bilateral partners immediately poured into the country, it is clear the response provided so far is inadequate, OCHA said.

Source: Xinhua