The Nepali government on Thursday, 3 September briefed the foreign diplomatic community in Kathmandu on the Bhote Koshi flood disaster, formally signalling its intent to seek international assistance for recovery and reconstruction once a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is completed. The death toll from the Rasuwa flood disaster had reached 1,252 by Thursday noon, with 4,216 people still out of contact, according to data released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

Scale of the Disaster

The floods have caused catastrophic damage along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, destroying roads, bridges, public and private buildings, and hydropower projects. Among those unaccounted for, many are believed to be trapped inside tunnels of hydropower projects. Additionally, 583 foreign nationals remain out of contact, according to the NDRRMA, making this a crisis with significant international dimensions.

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal described the event as a 'Himalayan tsunami', underscoring the unprecedented scale of destruction. This is the second major disaster to cause significant loss of life and infrastructure damage in Nepal since the Gen-Z movement last year, during which 77 people were killed and property worth more than NPR 84 billion was destroyed, according to government statistics.

What the Government Said

'The Nepali government will seek international assistance for the recovery and reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the Bhote Koshi flood after completing a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment,' Foreign Minister Khanal said at a diplomatic briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session was attended by ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organisations including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations.

'Preliminary estimates indicate that a significant amount of resources will be required to reconstruct the infrastructure damaged by the Bhote Koshi flood,' Khanal said. 'Once the detailed assessment is completed, the government will formally inform international partners about the resources required and request assistance for recovery and reconstruction.'

Khanal also committed to managing any international assistance with transparency, accountability and clearly defined priorities, and indicated that discussions were underway about holding an international donor conference — a mechanism Nepal last used after the 2015 earthquake, when the donor community pledged US$ 4.1 billion.

Foreign Nationals and Rescue Efforts

Foreign Minister Khanal stressed that the safety and welfare of foreign nationals remained a top priority. The Emergency Control Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nepali diplomatic missions abroad are providing verified information to families of missing foreign nationals and facilitating identification and repatriation where necessary. Nepal has thanked diplomatic missions for sharing information about their missing nationals, calling it critical to search and verification efforts.

Climate Justice at the Centre

Minister Khanal framed the Bhote Koshi disaster within the broader context of accelerating 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,' he said. He called for translating climate justice, early warning systems, and resilient reconstruction from paper commitments into concrete action. Nepal has already written to the co-chairs of the Loss and Damage Fund Board under the United Nations requesting immediate assistance, Khanal confirmed.

What Comes Next

A preliminary assessment of damage to houses, roads, bridges, hydropower projects and other critical infrastructure is currently underway. The PDNA, once completed, will establish the full extent of losses and define the resource requirements for reconstruction. The government is expected to formally approach international partners with a funding request once the assessment is finalised. How swiftly the donor community responds — and whether a formal pledging conference materialises — will determine the pace of Nepal's recovery.