Nepal’s Foreign Ministry says $57.67 million is needed for immediate recovery, while longer-term reconstruction could cost about $4.71 billion after the devastating August floods.
Web Desk: Nepal has estimated that rebuilding the areas devastated by last month’s deadly floods will require about $4.78 billion, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The August 26 disaster, triggered by a glacial mountain collapse and described by Nepali officials as a tsunami-like flood, caused widespread destruction along the China-Nepal border and downstream areas. More than 1,400 people have been killed, while thousands remain missing.
$4.78 Billion Needed for Reconstruction
Nepali Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said the total estimated requirement for reconstruction was approximately $4.78 billion.
Of that amount, about $57.67 million is expected to be required for short-term reconstruction and recovery during the next six months. The remaining $4.71 billion is projected to be needed for longer-term reconstruction.
The estimate remains subject to further assessment. Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said a comprehensive Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is being carried out to determine the full extent of losses and the final cost of recovery and reconstruction.
Search and Rescue Operations Continue
The disaster severely damaged homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure in several districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.
According to Nepal’s latest official situation update issued on September 10, 1,377 bodies had been recovered and 5,130 people remained missing. More than 13,600 people had been rescued, including more than 300 foreign nationals.
Rescue teams from several countries are continuing operations, particularly around hydropower tunnels where workers are believed to have been trapped. Nepal has also requested additional equipment, including drones, LiDAR systems, Bailey bridges, DNA kits, underwater drones and specialist tunnel-rescue equipment.
Nepal Seeks International Support
The scale of the disaster has prompted Nepal to seek increased international assistance for both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has pledged to raise the issue with the international community, particularly in relation to the impact of climate change on Nepal and other vulnerable countries. He is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly later this month.
Nepal argues that it contributes only a small fraction of global greenhouse-gas emissions but faces significant risks from climate-related disasters in the Himalayan region. Scientists have warned that rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt and increasing the risks associated with unstable glacial environments.
Damage Assessment Still Underway
The reconstruction figure comes as Nepal continues to assess the full economic impact of the floods.
A separate rapid assessment reported by The Kathmandu Post estimated total recovery needs at around NPR 723.31 billion, with infrastructure accounting for roughly three-quarters of the requirement. The assessment was prepared by a joint technical team led by Nepal’s National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
Nepal’s Foreign Ministry, however, said on September 10 that its preliminary RDNA was still being finalised and that the more comprehensive PDNA would determine the full cost of rebuilding.
The differing preliminary figures underline that the final reconstruction bill could change as authorities complete assessments of infrastructure, housing, agriculture, energy and other sectors.
