DEVIGHAT, Nepal -- A faint smell of decay hung over Devighat in late September as Nabin Chitrakar and his mother shoveled sludge from their three-story concrete home, nearly a month after floods tore through the town.

Collapsed buildings, mangled trees and twisted steel rods lay embedded in the mud around them. Chitrakar had run a small shop selling supplies to pilgrims visiting the nearby Jalapa Devi Temple. About 30 minutes before the flood struck, he loaded some valuables into a car and drove uphill, warning others along the way to flee.

The flood erased the boundary of the family's compound and engulfed the house, carrying mud and debris to the upper floors. A storeroom in the backyard, where the family kept sacks of grain and a washing machine, was destroyed. After spending three weeks in tents amid persistent rain and poor sanitation, the six family members began taking turns clearing the property themselves.

"If the government gives us land in a safe place and enough money to build a house, we will move," Chitrakar said. "But if it does what it did after the 2015 earthquake and provides only 300,000 rupees ($2,000) for reconstruction, we would rather return to our damaged home." Chitrakar's dilemma is shared across flood-hit communities.

A flood-damaged riverbank Devighat, pictured on Sept. 20. A government-led rapid assessment estimates recovery needs at $4.78 billion, around 12% of the country's gross domestic product. Restoring energy facilities and the electricity grid could cost $2.58 billion. International assistance announced since Aug. 26 covers only a fraction of that sum.

Foreign governments have sent rescue personnel, equipment, medical supplies and other emergency assistance. China announced approximately $2.4 million in assistance. The U.S. has announced more than $36 million for flood response and recovery efforts. Japan pledged $3 million, Australia more than $11 million, Britain 5 million pounds ($6.6 million), and Switzerland $2 million.

China announced approximately $2.4 million in assistance. The U.S. has announced more than $36 million for flood response and recovery efforts. Japan pledged $3 million, Australia more than $11 million, Britain 5 million pounds ($6.6 million), and Switzerland $2 million.

Relief supplies from China are stored at a government facility in Bidur, Nepal, on Sept. 21. "The global funding landscape has changed," said Subindra Bogati, executive director of nonprofit Nepal Peace Initiative. "The grants might cover only 10% to 15% of Nepal's recovery costs."

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday (early Friday in Nepal), Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 36-year-old former rapper who took office in March, did not explicitly seek financial support from the international community but said: "We are here to ask everyone to share their responsibility. ... People of our country need to concentrate on building our future instead of constantly building our past." Shah also proposed establishing the Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism, jointly led by Nepal, India and China, to share data and expertise on the Himalayan region.

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday (early Friday in Nepal), Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 36-year-old former rapper who took office in March, did not explicitly seek financial support from the international community but said: "We are here to ask everyone to share their responsibility. ... People of our country need to concentrate on building our future instead of constantly building our past." Shah also proposed establishing the Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism, jointly led by Nepal, India and China, to share data and expertise on the Himalayan region.

Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 24. Prior to Shah's U.N. speech, Nepal requested $20 million from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, a climate finance mechanism backed by the U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP). Even if approved in full, the request would cover less than 0.5% of the estimated recovery requirement. Bogati said Nepal should also approach the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and foreign governments with a long-term reconstruction plan.

The government has not specified how it will finance its share. Paras Kharel, executive director of the Kathmandu-based South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, said insurers, project owners and banks would also bear rebuilding costs. For the public projects, Kharel said, the government needs to divert money from its existing capital budget.

"It cannot carry out everything it had planned and take on reconstruction as well," he said. "It has to make hard choices about priorities." Family members sit in front of damaged house in Trishuli, Nepal, on Sept. 21.

"It cannot carry out everything it had planned and take on reconstruction as well," he said. "It has to make hard choices about priorities." Family members sit in front of damaged house in Trishuli, Nepal, on Sept. 21. That could mean postponing other construction while damaged roads, bridges and public facilities are rebuilt. New loans could fill some of the gap, Kharel said, but would add to Nepal's debt and future repayments. Grants have accounted for a declining share of its development financing, making the terms of any new borrowing especially important.

Nepal's disaster fundraising coincides with a sharp decline in international assistance. Official development assistance from members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development fell by a record 23.1%, or around $50 billion, in 2025. Humanitarian aid declined 35.8% to $15.5 billion.

Nepal's disaster fundraising coincides with a sharp decline in international assistance. Official development assistance from members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development fell by a record 23.1%, or around $50 billion, in 2025. Humanitarian aid declined 35.8% to $15.5 billion.

Washington also dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2025 after canceling about 5,200 awards worldwide, including projects in Nepal. Wars and other humanitarian emergencies are competing for a shrinking pool of donor funding. Devighat, pictured on Sept. 20. Kharel said Nepal should seek a larger share of grants or more favorable loan terms by presenting evidence of any climate contribution to the disaster. The COP-backed loss and damage fund has limited resources and cannot meet a rebuilding bill of this size, he said.

Nepal received considerably larger commitments after the 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and damaged or destroyed more than half a million homes. International donors pledged $4.4 billion against reconstruction needs then estimated at $6.7 billion.

Nepal received considerably larger commitments after the 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and damaged or destroyed more than half a million homes. International donors pledged $4.4 billion against reconstruction needs then estimated at $6.7 billion.

Bogati, who has worked on foreign-funded projects, said Nepal should count on its two neighbors, as it did in 2015. "The government should formulate a long-term plan and appeal to broad sections of international organizations. But ultimately, if we compare with the 2015 earthquake, our neighbors India and China, with their growth, can help us rebuild," he said.

Deepak Adhikari is a contributing writer.