Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to the world today for more money, helicopters, trucks, heavy lifting equipment and tents to help earthquake- ravaged Pakistan as temperatures drop in remote areas.

``A second massive wave of death will happen if we do not step up our efforts now,'' Annan said in a statement issued in New York. ``What is needed is an immediate and exceptional escalation of the global relief effort.''

Annan said the fast-approaching Himalayan winter threatens ``hundreds of thousands'' of survivors in parts of northern Pakistan in remote areas where rescuers have not yet reached.

Donors have made firm commitments for only 12 percent, or $37 million, of the $312 million the UN says it needs. By comparison, Annan said 80 percent of what the UN sought after the Indian Ocean tsunami was funded within 10 days of the disaster.

As many as 3.3 million people are homeless after the magnitude-7.6 temblor on Oct. 8, which killed at least 42,000 people and left more than 67,000 injured. More than 500,000 people haven't yet been reached in northern Pakistan, the world's most mountainous region, and are in danger of dying from hypothermia, according to the UN.

``The difficult terrain makes this one of the most challenging relief operations ever undertaken,'' Annan said. ``Winter is approaching fast, and temperatures are dropping.''

Annan called for 450,000 more winterized tents and about 2 million blankets and sleeping bags.

To contact the reporter on this story: Judy Mathewson in Washington at jmathewson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 19, 2005 16:20 EDT