ISLAMABAD - The United Nations struggles with under-funding issues that have lately surfaced after donors have exhibited hesitance to make significant contributions for Pakistans humanitarian assistance unless the international monitory bodies finalise the damage assessments. The diplomats representing some key donor states argue that the contributions and pledges for Pakistan Flood Emergency Response Plan are to come speedily only after the Disaster Needs Assessment (DNA) is finalised by World Bank and Asian Development Bank. On the other hand, the UN urgently needs to respond to the plight of over 14 million flood affectees as winter is approaching. Talking to TheNation, Manuel Bessler, Head of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Pakistan, has said that the Disaster Needs Assessment being conducted by WB and ADB envisages reconstruction in the flood-ravaged areas based on long-term strategy while flood affectees need immediate humanitarian assistance. It is important to underline that one of the two reasons of funds slowdown is that the DNA focuses on long-term planning in flood-hit areas while the needs of flood affectees are of emergent nature that call for immediate humanitarian response, he said. According to OCHA Head, another reason for the prevailing slowdown of humanitarian funds for PFERP is global economic situation and donors fatigue. We see a bit of donors fatigue as funding requirements are enormous. The donors have to make active contributions to help flood victims meet this huge challenge, he added. PFERP is currently funded at 40 percent of the required $1.93 billion. Earlier, Mago Saki, Head of Economic Section Japanese Embassy to Pakistan, told this journalist that the Government of Japan would specify further humanitarian aid allocations for Pakistans assistance, once the WB and DNA released the DNA reports. Japan has recently provided $20m for Pakistans assistance. Further aid specifications are not finalised as yet but Japan would be keen to contribute its share for Pakistans help after the assessment reports are out, he said. Japans contributions to the crisis exceed $31m for Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (PHRP) and PFERP. Head of Non-Political Section, Saudi Embassy to Pakistan, Saleh Al-Mugheeri told TheNation that Saudi Government would finalise further aid packages for Pakistan in the coming months. Saudi Arabia, being the second largest contributor to Pakistans aid after US, has contributed a total of around $150m for Pakistans internally displaced persons and flood affectees. China has not contributed to PFERP so far, however, Wu Jin Song, Chief Representative China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Sichuan Council), told this correspondent that China would step ahead to help Pakistan after damage assessments in flooded areas are completed. It is still not known when WB and ADB would release the DNA reports regarding Pakistans natural calamity.