Nepal Estimates $4.78 Billion Bill To Rebuild After Devastating Floods

Nepal has estimated that it will need around $4.78 billion for reconstruction following.

The devastating floods triggered by a glacial mountain collapse last month, the country’s foreign ministry said on Friday.

The August 26 disaster began near the China-Nepal border, unleashing a tsunami-like flood that killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing. The scale of the destruction has prompted Nepal to seek greater international support as it grapples with the growing impact of climate-related disasters.

Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah is expected to raise the issue at the United Nations General Assembly later this month during his first foreign trip since taking office.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai said Shah would use the UN platform to draw international attention to the repeated loss of life and property Nepal has suffered as a result of climate change and related disasters.

Nepal Seeks International Support

Foreign ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Chhetri said the total estimated requirement for reconstruction stands at approximately $4.78 billion.

Of that amount, around $57.67 million will be required for immediate reconstruction and recovery over the next six months, while approximately $4.71 billion will be needed for long-term rebuilding.

“Given the scale and extent of the damage, the government is also undertaking a comprehensive post-disaster needs assessment to determine the full extent of loss and damage and the requirement for recovery, rebuilding and reconstruction,” Chhetri said.

Nepal, a largely rural country of around 30 million people, contributes only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, its Himalayan geography leaves it particularly vulnerable to the effects of a warming climate.

While the precise cause of the glacial collapse remains unclear, scientists have warned that rising global temperatures are accelerating glacier melt across the Himalayas and increasing the risk of disasters.

Damage Assessment Underway

A preliminary United Nations assessment estimated damage to buildings from the floods at around $158 million. The UN warned that the overall economic impact would be significantly higher once damage to roads, bridges, agricultural land and humanitarian infrastructure is included.

Rescue operations are continuing in some of the worst-hit areas. Teams are still searching hydropower tunnels that were flooded with freezing mud, with hundreds of workers among those reported missing.

Three people were rescued from deep inside tunnels several days after the disaster. However, there has been no confirmation of additional survivors since a Chinese national was rescued alive nearly a week after the floods.

The United Nations has launched a $50 million appeal to support more than 84,000 people affected by the disaster. The organisation said operations were increasingly shifting from search and rescue towards relief and recovery, although rescue efforts were continuing.

Death Toll Crosses 1,400

According to Nepal’s disaster agency, rescuers had recovered 1,385 bodies, while around 5,130 people remained missing as of Friday.

In neighbouring China, 43 people have died and 519 remain missing, according to state media.

The combined toll from the disaster stands at 1,428 deaths, with more than 5,649 people missing. Around 800 foreigners, including tourists and pilgrims, are among those reported missing.

Nepal’s government has said long-term international assistance will be crucial as the Himalayan nation works to rebuild communities and infrastructure while adapting to an increasingly unpredictable mountain environment.