Nepal flood recovery demands resilient reconstruction

Following the August 26 flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts, survivors are facing a humanitarian crisis characterized by loss of life, missing persons, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods. While relief efforts involving food and water are underway, displaced families are currently sheltering in holding centres, such as schools, facing uncertainty regarding long-term housing as these facilities prepare to reopen.

Experts emphasize that reconstruction efforts must prioritize long-term resilience over mere replacement of lost infrastructure. There is a call for rigorous hazard mapping—evaluating flood depth, river erosion, and slope stability—to identify safe building zones and prohibit development in high-risk areas. With over 80 percent of Nepal’s population exposed to major natural hazards, planners argue that rebuilding in original, unsafe locations would only recreate existing risks in an era of increasing climate uncertainty.