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The devastating floods that struck Nepal last week have damaged or destroyed assets, homes and infrastructure worth at least 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately $2.56 billion), the head of the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Dhruba Raj Upreti, told Reuters on Friday (September 4).
Upreti said around $52.6 million could be needed during the first four months of emergency recovery efforts to rebuild roads, establish temporary shelters, provide clean drinking water and restore electricity supplies.
“These are preliminary estimates so far. The figures were prepared in coordination with various agencies and government departments. A more detailed assessment of the damage will be carried out soon,” Upreti said.
He added that nearly 20,000 homes in the affected areas would need to be rebuilt, including at least 7,500 homes that were completely destroyed.
On August 26, a glacier collapse in an area of Nepal near the Chinese border triggered a devastating surge of ice, rocks and mud into the Trishuli River. The resulting floods inundated and destroyed towns and villages one after another.
More than 1,250 people have reportedly been killed in the disaster, while more than 4,200 remain missing. Thousands of people have also been displaced after losing their homes.
