Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan said 131,000 people in Azad Kashmir are directly affected by the floods which have inundated a strip of 90 km in the extreme north. Eleven hydroelectric stations, 13 small and big bridges, roads, schools, hospitals, livestock and timber have been wiped out or stand damaged.

"It's a double blow to us. Besides the miseries brought about by the floods, our biggest loss is the disruption in the post-quake reconstruction work that was continuing with the help of international donors," Khan told Arab News in Jeddah on Wednesday.

He was referring to the earthquake of 2005 that had a devastating effect on Azad Kashmir.

Khan said his region still needs $500 million for the reconstruction, "which is crucial to us." The Islamic Development Bank (IDB), has so far played a major role in this as also other international agencies like the World Bank, WHO, WFP, UNICEF, etc.

The prime minister came here on a short visit specially to meet the IDB President Ahmed Mohamed Ali. "I came here to apprise the IDB president of the situation born out of the floods and sensitize him. We want our donors to continue their assistance in the reconstruction besides assisting in flood relief," he said adding that he also invited Ali to visit Azad Kashmir.

According to him, the current incident of floods is the fourth calamity in 20 years that his territory has faced. First it was the "century's worst" floods in 1992, then uninterrupted firings from India following the renewed uprising in the Indian part of Kashmir, then the earthquake of 2005 and now this flood. "Kashmiris have no respite from the crisis, be it political or natural."

He said Saudi Arabia was on top of those who came forward with assistance following the current flood. "We have received massive help from Saudi Arabia for which I express my gratitude on behalf of all the Kashmiri people," he said, adding Oman was another notable country in the Gulf which has extended help in this hour of crisis.

The prime minister also acknowledged Saudi Arabia's help in the reconstruction work, specially in the housing sector. Besides, the Kingdom was establishing a university named after King Abdullah.

Saudi Arabia is actively participating in the relief efforts in the whole of flood-affected Pakistan. Azad Kashmir is a major recipient of Saudi aid.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has ordered 1,000 truckloads of relief supplies for Pakistan. Out of this, 80 trucks will go to Azad Kashmir and Punjab in the first phase.

Around 12,000 families in Azad Kashmir will get 240 tons of flour, 60 tons of rice, 24 tons of lentils, 24 tons of beans, 25 tons of milk and 60,000 liters of cooking oil. About 8,000 families in Punjab will receive 160 tons of flour, 40 tons of rice, 40 tons of lentils, 16 tons of milk and 40,000 liters of cooking oil.