ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The world pledged $3.4 billion in new quake aid for Pakistan at a make-or-break donor conference Saturday. But aid groups warned that many of the promises were for loans that will heap more debt on the impoverished country.

Pakistan nonetheless hailed the conference as a success, with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf thanking the nearly 80 attending nations and international agencies for "helping Pakistan in this hour of need." He said the gesture "will never be forgotten."

The conference followed weeks of largely unheeded warnings from the United Nations and aid groups that thousands could die of hunger, exposure and disease unless money arrives before the harsh Himalayan winter.

Acute respiratory illnesses are on the rise among the 3 million people whose homes were destroyed by the 7.6 magnitude quake Oct. 8, and there have been outbreaks of diarrhea, scabies, tetanus and other diseases.

The $3.4 billion in new pledges raises the total aid pledge to $5.8 billion - slightly more than the government said it needed to rebuild from the quake.

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