(WASHINGTON, DC) – A Saudi rescue team from the Saudi Civil Defense and Border Guards sent under the directive of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has saved the lives of 136 Pakistanis after flooding waters swept over five villages in Pakistan. The teams arrived in Pakistan on August 23 and 24.

To date, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the government, citizens and corporations, have donated more than $170 million to the people affected by the flooding in Pakistan. This includes $70 million in humanitarian aid, such as water, food, blankets and medical supplies being transported by the bridge established at the directive of King Abdullah.

Today, the Saudi Campaign for the Relief of the People of Pakistan will begin utilizing a land bridge, providing relief materials for those affected by floods in Pakistan. For two months the bridge will carry the basic human needs, including rice, flour, beans, lentils, and milk.

The first phase of relief convoys also began today, including 80 trucks carrying aid that will be distributed in the provinces of Punjab and Kashmir. The trucks will provide food for 8,000 Punjabi families. They will receive 160 tons of flour, 40 tons of rice, 40 tons of lentils, 16 tons of milk and 40,000 liters of oil. In Kashmir, 12,000 families will receive 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 oil. Over the next three months, a total of 1,000 trucks will provide humanitarian assistance to 2 million flood victims in Pakistan.