After the floods, Nepal estimates its reconstruction will cost up to $5 billion.

Rebuilding the flood-ravaged areas of Nepal could cost several billion dollars. Nepal's Finance Minister, Swarnim Wagle, has given an initial estimate of between 4 and 5 billion dollars, while emphasizing that the assessment of the losses is still underway.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal also warned that "reconstruction and rehabilitation could cost billions of dollars." The government intends to conduct a detailed assessment of the damage before establishing its recovery plan and seeking broader support from the international community.

This figure remains very provisional. Search operations are continuing in several districts, and the death toll continues to rise. As of August 31, the Nepalese disaster management agency reported 903 deaths and 4.247 missing persons in the country. In neighboring Tibet, Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing persons.

Emergency services remain the priority

Despite the scale of future needs, the Nepalese government insists on the urgency of search and rescue operations and providing assistance to those affected. More than 4.450 people had been rescued as of August 29, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Teams are deployed in the districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan. Operations are made particularly difficult by blocked roads, landslides, rising water levels and damage to communication networks.

Part of the search is focused on the tunnels of several hydroelectric power plants. According to the Nepal Association of Independent Power Producers, at least twelve projects have been damaged and approximately 900 workers remain missing at these sites. Several hundred more may be trapped in tunnels filled with mud.

Specialized teams are attempting to clear access routes and deliver air, water, and food to any possible survivors. India and China, in particular, have announced the deployment of tunnel rescue specialists.

Damaged roads, bridges and hydroelectric power plants

The floods have affected many essential infrastructures: homes, road networks, bridges, and hydroelectric power plants. Several areas remain isolated, complicating the delivery of aid and essential supplies.

The electricity grid is a major challenge for reconstruction. Hydropower plays a central role in the country's energy supply, and the damaged facilities will need to undergo thorough inspections before being put back into service.

The authorities will also need to quickly restore destroyed road links and crossings. Temporary solutions, including temporary bridges, may be necessary before permanent construction begins.

Beyond the restoration, the disaster raises the question of the resilience of structures built in Himalayan valleys exposed to flash floods, landslides and risks related to the evolution of glaciers.

Nepal appeals for international aid

Several countries and organizations have already announced financial or material aid. The European Union has released €2 million to meet immediate needs for food, medical care, drinking water, sanitation, and emergency shelter. It has also activated the Copernicus satellite service to map the affected areas.

The United Kingdom has announced a £5 million aid package for relief and recovery operations. A rapid response team has also been sent to Kathmandu to bolster consular services and assist British nationals.

Nepal also reports having received more than 57 tons of humanitarian supplies from India, as well as equipment provided by China, Japan, Australia and other partners.

These initial contributions, however, remain far from the sums that will be needed to sustainably repair infrastructure, rebuild homes and restore economic activity in the affected regions.

Urgent health and medico-legal needs

The government has also requested specialized assistance to identify the victims. Local capacities for DNA analysis, forensic medicine, and body preservation are insufficient to meet the number of bodies recovered.

Authorities are particularly seeking mortuary equipment, means of rapid identification, and technologies capable of locating people who may still be alive under rubble or in tunnels.

In the longer term, the cost of the disaster will weigh heavily on an economy dependent on tourism, remittances sent by Nepalese working abroad, and hydroelectric power generation. The future reconstruction program will therefore have to balance immediate needs, the restoration of essential services, and the adaptation of infrastructure to increasingly hazardous natural risks.