Nepal Estimates $4.78 Billion Needed to Rebuild After Deadly Natural Disasters

Nepal estimates the reconstruction bill after deadly floods triggered by a glacial mountain collapse on August 26 will total $4.78 billion amid natural disasters, with the government planning to highlight climate change impacts at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Disaster Overview and Human Toll

The August 26 flood killed more than 1,400 people, left around 5,600 missing including about 800 foreigners, and damaged buildings estimated at $158 million by a UN preliminary assessment. [1] Rescuers in Nepal have retrieved 1,385 bodies while around 5,130 people are missing according to the disaster agency. [1] In China the toll is 43 dead and 519 missing according to state media. [1] The combined toll is 1,428 people dead and more than 5,649 missing including around 800 foreigners among them tourists and pilgrims. [1] Nine South Koreans remain missing from a hydropower plant construction site. [3] Search operations continue despite challenges from terrain weather and disease risks with Nepal shifting focus from rescue to recovery. [3] The nine missing South Koreans include six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three of Korea South-East Power who went missing on Aug. 26 while working at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower plant construction site in Rasuwa District near the Nepal-Tibet border. [4] Nepal rescuers are still excavating hydropower tunnels swamped by freezing mud with hundreds of workers among the missing. [1] Three people were rescued from deep inside tunnels days after the disaster but there has been no confirmation of further survivors since a Chinese man was pulled out alive nearly a week ago. [1]

Reconstruction Cost Estimates

Of the $4.78 billion total $57.67 million is needed for short-term reconstruction and recovery over the next six months while $4.71 billion is required for longer-term efforts. [1] The total estimated requirement for reconstruction is approximately $4.78 billion according to Nepali foreign ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Chhetri. [1] Of this approximately $57.67 million is estimated to be required for short-term reconstruction and recovery over the next six months while approximately $4.71 billion is required for longer-term reconstruction. [1] A UN preliminary assessment estimated building damage from Nepal’s floods at $158 million alone warning that total losses including damage to roads and bridges agricultural land and humanitarian costs would be far higher. [1] 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 according to Chhetri. [1]

South Korean relief team members prepare for departure to assist Nepal disaster recovery. — Source: korea-herald

Government Response and International Appeal

Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah will address the UN General Assembly later this month to seek long-term international support for adapting to a changing mountain environment caused by climate change. [1] Prime Minister Balendra Shah has vowed to strongly raise with the international community the disasters that Nepal has experienced as a result of climate change. [1] Shah will take his first foreign trip as leader to address the UN General Assembly on the urgent issue later this month the foreign ministry said. [1] Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai told reporters on Friday that Shah will address the UN to draw the attention of the international community to the repeated loss of life and property Nepal has had to face due to climate change and disasters created by it. [1] Nepal’s leaders say the Himalayan country needs long-term international support to adapt to a rapidly changing mountain environment. [1] The United Nations which has launched a $50 million appeal to help more than 84,000 people has said that operations are shifting from search and rescue to relief and recovery though rescues continue. [1]

International Relief Efforts

South Korea dispatched a second eight-member disaster relief team on September 11 focused on reconstruction and recovery carrying 4 tons of supplies worth $134,000 following an initial 44-member search-and-rescue team. [3] The eight-member Korea Disaster Relief Team departed from Gimhae Airport at 2:55 a.m. aboard an Air Force KC-330 military transport aircraft and was scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu at around 9 a.m. according to the Foreign Ministry. [3] The team comprises two officials each from the Foreign Ministry the National Fire Agency and the Korea International Cooperation Agency as well as two medical personnel. [3] It will remain in Nepal for seven days. [3] The aircraft carried about 4 tons of relief supplies worth 180 million won including blankets winter clothing and tents donated by South Korean companies through nongovernmental organizations. [3] The first 44-member KDRT contingent dispatched to Nepal on Sept. 2 for a 10-day search-and-rescue mission is scheduled to return home on Saturday morning. [4] A government joint rapid response team that was dispatched to Nepal shortly after the floods will be reorganized into a seven-member team to support recovery and other efforts the ministry said. [4] The team includes police and forensic officials who will work with their Nepalese counterparts at a forensic science laboratory to assist in identifying victims among other duties. [4]

Challenges in Search and Recovery from Natural Disasters

Large-scale search operations had become increasingly difficult due to the mountainous terrain weather-related risks and concerns over infectious diseases. [3] Despite the difficulties search-and-rescue efforts will continue according to a ministry official. [3] The second team will support reconstruction and recovery efforts as the Nepali government shifts its disaster response toward recovery. [3] It will also continue supporting efforts to locate the missing South Koreans. [3] Search efforts would continue even after the first KDRT team leaves with the second contingent working alongside South Korean government personnel remaining in Nepal the South Korean Embassy local authorities and corporate search teams. [4] Nepal has shifted its focus from search and rescue to reconstruction and recovery while the Seoul government has said it will continue supporting search efforts for the missing Koreans in cooperation with Nepalese authorities and corporate rescue teams. [5] An MP has accused the government of failing to help one of his constituents who has been missing since a deadly flood struck Nepal last month. [2] Ashington and Blyth MP Ian Lavery told parliament the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has refused to directly assist in the hunt for Newbiggin-by-the-Sea resident Anirban Battacharyya who despite living in the UK for 60 years maintains Indian citizenship. [2]

What to watch next: The second eight-member Korea Disaster Relief Team will remain in Nepal for seven days focusing on reconstruction and recovery while search efforts for the nine missing South Koreans continue alongside forensic support at a laboratory.