Nepal was devastated by a torrent of ice, water, and rocks on August 26, which swept through vast areas of the north and center of the country over more than 150 kilometers, destroying more than 7,500 homes and affecting at least 12 hydroelectric projects in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river basins. The destruction of bridges and roads is isolating dozens of communities, with stores running out of supplies and humanitarian aid stuck in logistics centers such as Bidur and Dhunche.
The country intends to finance reconstruction, estimated at 4 to 5 billion dollars, using subsidies and non-reimbursable funds to avoid new debt. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal instructed the diplomatic network to prioritize multilateral donations, and the Government requested support from the Loss and Damage Response Fund of the UNFCCC. Kathmandu argues that Nepal contributes only 0.025% of global emissions and intends to frame financing with means that go beyond humanitarian aid.
Fourteen days after the catastrophe, 5,133 people remain missing, including 587 foreign tourists and two Portuguese nationals. A total of 1,367 bodies and remains have been recovered, but only 102 have been handed over to families, in an identification process that relies on 2,698 DNA samples and support from specialists from China, India, and South Korea. More than 3,600 people remain displaced in 37 temporary shelters, where water contamination and overcrowding have increased the risk of diseases such as cholera.
More than 21,000 professionals remain mobilized for search operations in the mud and in the tunnels of hydroelectric plants, such as Upper Trishuli-1, where hundreds of workers are believed to have been trapped. Prime Minister Balendra Shah intends to address the crisis at the United Nations General Assembly at the end of the month.
