With their villages in shambles, winter on its way and government help slow to arrive, flood victims are scrambling to rebuild their homes.

Many are taking on debt as the price of construction materials has soared following the disaster that damaged or destroyed 1.9 million houses.

The government has promised it would come up with a long-term reconstruction strategy, but flood victims say self-reliance is a more realistic, and timely, option.

Aid agencies say they, too, are facing the time crunch and are running short of funds to provide temporary shelter for those displaced by the deluge.

The UN has asked international donors for $346 million to provide flood victims with emergency shelter, such as tents, and transitional shelter, which are basic structures that typically last a few years. It has so far received only 20 percent of that request.

Several flood victims said they would have to take on debt to finance their new homes, but were worried that without any assets, banks wouldn't lend to them. Others said they couldn't afford to take on loans if they had interest payments attached.

As more flood victims try to rebuild, demand for materials has sent construction prices soaring.

Cement that sold for roughly 200 rupees a bag before the floods is now 370 rupees, said Nadeem Khattak, whose family runs a construction firm and operates a relief camp for flood victims. The price of steel is up by at least a third, he said.

Reports have circulated about people stealing bricks from damaged homes, so many flood-hit families keep a member posted at their property to watch their pile.

People who want to buy bricks will find they're 70 percent more expensive than before, said Khattak, whose own estate in Nowshera was badly hit.