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Nepal Flood Reconstruction Costs Could Reach Billions, Minister Says
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Nepal Flood Reconstruction Costs Could Reach Billions, Minister Says

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Nepal's Foreign Minister estimates that the cost of rebuilding areas and infrastructure destroyed by recent floods could reach billions of dollars.
  • The disaster has resulted in over 600 deaths and nearly 2,500 people missing.
  • Nepal is seeking international support for specialized assistance in areas like tunnel rescue, restoring transport and communication lines, identifying bodies, and DNA analysis.

Nepal faces a monumental task of reconstruction following devastating floods that have claimed over 600 lives and left nearly 2,500 people missing. Foreign Minister Shishir Koirala estimated that the cost to rebuild the affected areas and infrastructure could run into "billions of dollars," a figure that represents a significant portion of the nation's economy.

Reconstruction and restoration may cost billions of dollars.

— Shishir KoiralaNepal's Foreign Minister stated the estimated cost of rebuilding after the devastating floods.

Koirala appealed for international support, specifying the need for specialized assistance rather than general rescue operations. The country requires help with rescuing individuals trapped in tunnels, reopening vital transport and communication routes where bridges have been destroyed, and managing the identification and temporary storage of numerous bodies. "We have already submitted requests for such specialized services and technical assistance in fields where we lack sufficient experience and expertise," he stated.

We have already submitted requests for such specialized services and technical assistance in fields where we lack sufficient experience and expertise.

— Shishir KoiralaNepal's Foreign Minister explained the specific types of international assistance the country requires.

While international aid has begun to arrive, it remains limited. The European Union has pledged 2 million euros, and the United Kingdom has committed 5 million pounds (5.8 million euros). China has also sent five tunnel rescue specialists following a request from the Nepalese government for assistance at a hydroelectric power station.

For the time being, the priority remains providing relief and rescuing as many lives as possible.

— Shishir KoiralaNepal's Foreign Minister emphasized the immediate focus on rescue and relief efforts.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle provided a more specific financial projection, estimating reconstruction costs between 3.5 and 4.5 billion euros, which is roughly one-tenth of Nepal's economy. The nation, already facing economic challenges, relies heavily on tourism and remittances from its citizens working abroad. The floods have exacerbated these difficulties, underscoring the urgent need for substantial financial and technical aid to recover from the disaster.

We have called our friends who can provide specific assistance.

— Shishir KoiralaNepal's Foreign Minister indicated that the country is seeking targeted help from international partners.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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