KATHMANDU — Nepal has resumed rescue and recovery operations following devastating floods, while government officials warn that rebuilding damaged infrastructure could cost billions of dollars.
Nepal's authorities resumed search and rescue operations Saturday after a temporary weather-related suspension. Officials are now turning increasing attention toward the scale of reconstruction required after the flooding.
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle told Reuters that Nepal could need between $4 billion and $5 billion to rebuild after the disaster.
Reconstruction Could Take Years
The estimate illustrates the enormous economic challenge facing a country where infrastructure and public resources are already under pressure.
Flooding can damage roads, bridges, homes, power systems, agricultural land and communications networks. Restoring those systems can take months or years, particularly when affected areas are difficult to reach.
Officials have also emphasized the need for technical assistance as the country moves from emergency response toward reconstruction.
The immediate priority remains ensuring that affected communities receive assistance and that rescue operations reach people who may still be stranded or displaced.
Longer term, the disaster is likely to intensify discussion about Nepal's infrastructure resilience and preparedness for extreme weather.
International assistance could become an important component of the recovery effort, particularly if the final reconstruction bill approaches the government's current estimate.
For Nepal, the challenge now is moving from emergency response to rebuilding while ensuring that restored infrastructure is better prepared for future disasters.
