Nepal Flood Reconstruction Bill To Be $4.78bn — Foreign Ministry

Nepal estimates the reconstruction bill after deadly floods sparked by a glacial mountain collapse will amount to $4.78 billion, the foreign ministry announced on Friday.

Nepali foreign ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Chhetri told reporters that approximately $57.67 million is needed for short-term recovery over the next six months, while around $4.71 billion is required for long-term reconstruction.

The August 26 disaster, a tsunami-like flood originating on the China-Nepal border, killed more than 1,400 people and left over 5,600 missing, including tourists, pilgrims, and hydropower site workers across the region.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah will undertake his first foreign trip as leader to address the United Nations General Assembly later this month, aiming to draw global attention to the severe loss of life and infrastructure caused by climate-driven disasters in the Himalayas.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai confirmed that the government is undertaking a comprehensive post-disaster needs assessment to establish the full extent of the damage to roads, bridges, agricultural land, and public utilities.

Preliminary United Nations assessments estimated building damage alone at $158 million, while the UN launched a $50 million humanitarian appeal to support more than 84,000 affected residents as operations transition from search and rescue to long-term recovery.