Kathmandu, September 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Nepal will seek international assistance for the recovery and reconstruction of infrastructure devastated by the recent Bhote Koshi floods after completing a detailed assessment of the damage, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said on Thursday.
The death toll from the Rasuwa flood disaster had reached 1,252 by Thursday noon, while 4,216 people remained out of contact, according to the latest data released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
The floods caused extensive damage along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, affecting roads, bridges, public and private buildings and hydropower projects. Rescue and relief operations are continuing, including efforts to trace people who remain unaccounted for, some of whom are believed to be inside hydropower project tunnels.
Addressing Nepal’s foreign diplomatic community in Kathmandu, Khanal said a preliminary assessment was underway to determine the damage caused to houses, roads, bridges, hydropower projects and other critical infrastructure.
The government will undertake a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) to establish the full extent of the destruction and determine the resources required for recovery and reconstruction, he said.
“Preliminary estimates indicate that a significant amount of resources will be required to reconstruct the infrastructure damaged by the Bhote Koshi flood,” Khanal said. He added that once the detailed assessment is completed, Nepal would formally approach international partners with its requirements and seek assistance.
Ambassadors, diplomatic representatives and officials from international organisations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the United Nations, attended the briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Khanal said the government would ensure that international assistance was managed with transparency, accountability and clearly defined priorities. Earlier this week, he had said Nepal was also discussing the possibility of holding an international donor conference.
Nepal had organised a similar international conference after the devastating 2015 earthquake, when the international community pledged up to $4.1 billion in assistance.
The Foreign Minister also said the safety and welfare of foreign nationals remained a priority, with 583 foreign nationals currently reported out of contact, according to NDRRMA data.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with NDRRMA, Nepal Police, the Nepal Tourism Board, Nepali diplomatic missions abroad and families of missing foreign nationals. An Emergency Control Room established by the ministry and Nepali missions abroad are helping provide verified information, facilitate identification and arrange repatriation where necessary.
Describing the disaster as a “Himalayan tsunami”, Khanal said Nepal was examining its causes and development with the assistance of technical experts.
He stressed that the disaster should not be viewed solely as an immediate humanitarian crisis but also against the backdrop of growing climate risks in the Himalayan region.
“Although Nepal makes a negligible contribution to global emissions, the people of Nepal are bearing a disproportionate and heavy burden of the impacts of a warming Himalaya,” Khanal said.
He called for climate justice, effective early-warning systems, disaster preparedness and resilient reconstruction to move beyond policy commitments and be implemented on the ground.
Khanal also said Nepal had written to the co-chairs of the United Nations Loss and Damage Fund Board seeking immediate assistance.
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