UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 5 -- While winterization preparations are underway for about 900,000 Syrians displaced from their homes by war, there is a gap of 32 million U.S. dollars in funding for it, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday.

"Some 900,000 people in northwest Syria are expected to benefit from the winter assistance this year," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "However, there is a 40 percent funding gap of about 32 million U.S. dollars that still is needed."

Dujarric told correspondents at a regular briefing that the winterization campaign provides winter clothes, blankets, heaters, stoves, heating fuel, mattresses, carpets, and plastic sheeting to people in need.

The United Nations calls on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and allow for the winter response operation to be implemented with safe, unimpeded and sustained access to all in need, he said.

"Winter conditions in Syria can be harsh especially in remote and hard to reach areas," Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), told correspondents in Geneva two weeks ago. "Last year temperatures dived to minus 13 degrees centigrade in many parts of the country."