A new tally from regional officials has increased the death toll from the earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan.to 79,000.
Despite brisk sorties of helicopters delivering aid to survivors, an estimated half-million survivors, many of them in Pakistan's portion of Kashmir, have yet to receive any help since the 7.6-magnitude earthquake leveled entire villages. Thousands need urgent medical care.
The situation is the most dire in the estimated 1,000 settlements outside the main cities and towns, said regional UN disaster coordinator Rob Holden.
"Many people out there, we are not going to get to in time," Holden said. "Some people who have injuries don't have a chance of survival."
Mr Asif Iqbal Daudzai, information minister for Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, said today that 37,958 people died in the province and at least 23,172 were injured, the vast majority of them in Mansehra district. He said the figures were based on reports from local government and hospital officials, and that the toll was likely to rise.
The prime minister of neighboring Pakistani-held Kashmir, Sikander Hayat Khan, said at least 40,000 people died in that region. India has reported 1,360 deaths in the part of Kashmir that it controls.
Pakistan's central government has said the death toll from North West Frontier Province and Pakistani-held Kashmir was a total of 42,000, and expected to rise. The central count has lagged behind the local count since the early days of the disaster.
This morning's 5.8-magnitude aftershock struck 80 miles north of Islamabad, near the epicenter of the main quake, according to the US Geological Survey. It was followed by another in the same area about 45 minutes later that registered 5.6.
In Indian-held Kashmir, the new tremors startled thousands of people in relief camps, including those in the worst-hit Uri and Tangdar districts close to the boundary with Pakistan-held territory. Police said there were no reports of landslides or damage to buildings.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, the UN's top relief coordinator said the international community was not doing enough to help and should step up relief efforts.
Jan Egeland, UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, urged China to help because it borders the hard-hit area of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and has a stockpile of winter tents.
Egeland asked China for 20,000 tents, 10 helicopters and as much cash as possible - hinting at $20 million. Beijing, a close ally of Pakistan, has already pledged $6.2 million directly to Islamabad and sent tents, blankets, water purifying tablets, rescue equipment and a search team.