Catastrophic floods in Nepal have caused damage to properties valued at at least 387.5 billion NPR, or about USD 2.56 billion, according to Dharma Raj Upreti, chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
During the initial four months of the early recovery period, the nation needs an estimated USD 52.6 million, says Upreti. The money would be used to repair roads and temporary shelters, get drinking water to the worst-hit places and electricity functioning.
These are “estimated” amounts, Upreti said, adding that they were arrived at in consultation with relevant government agencies and departments. A thorough evaluation of the damage will be conducted “in the near future,” he said.
The devastation has imposed a huge reconstruction challenge on Nepal. The reconstruction of about 20,000 houses in flood-hit areas is needed and at least 7,500 houses have been ascertained as being damaged, Upreti said.
The disaster was preceded by a rockfall of ice and mud into the Trishuli River in the border area of Nepal with China, flattening an entire village on August 26. Filmed the communities including towns and villages over flooding which led to damage and forced thousands of individuals out of their homes.
The tragedy left behind has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 1250 people with more than 4200 missing. Rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing while authorities are still recovering the impact of the damage.
With such massive losses as emphasized, immediate relief, temporary shelters, and rebuilding and repair of essential infrastructure is urgently needed, while Nepal faces a lengthy and expensive process of reconstruction.