The Bhotekoshi disaster has sent shockwaves through Nepal. Floodwaters and landslides have swept through Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan, killing hundreds and leaving thousands still unaccounted for. Homes have been destroyed, roads and bridges washed away, and hydropower projects and other critical infrastructure badly damaged. The economic loss is already estimated at more than Rs 200 billion. The government has responded quickly, deploying the full weight of the state to deal with an unimaginable level of tragedy. The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and other government agencies are involved in rescue and relief operations. Saving lives and helping survivors must remain the immediate priority. But as the emergency response moves toward recovery, another challenge has emerged that cannot be ignored: how to ensure that the money, supplies and other assistance coming into the country actually reach the people who need them. The response from both within Nepal and abroad has been encouraging. The Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund reportedly received more than Rs 5 billion within just four days of the disaster. India, China, the United States and several other nations have offered help, while international organisations, political parties, businesses, civil society groups and ordinary citizens have also contributed donations. However, a large flow of donations can create problems. Reports of unscrupulous individuals trying to exploit the situation have already raised concerns that some donations could end up in the wrong hands. Some individuals within the government apparatus could also misappropriate funds, making transparency and coordination essential.
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Therefore, the government needs to establish a single system to record and track all assistance, whether it comes in the form of cash, food, medicine, equipment, vehicles or technical support. Authorities should properly register every affected household to ensure that assistance reaches those in need. Families that have lost homes, income earners or their main source of livelihood will need targeted assistance, while the families of those killed or still missing will require separate support. Relief must be distributed according to need, not connections or influence. Communities cut off by damaged roads should receive priority for food and essential supplies. Cash support can help families recover, but the system must include safeguards against fraud, duplication and exclusion. Local governments should play a central role because they understand the needs of their communities, while independent monitoring should ensure that assistance is not diverted. The government should also avoid judging its response simply by how much aid has been collected or distributed. The Bhotekoshi disaster has damaged infrastructure that cannot be restored through short-term relief funds alone. Roads, bridges, hydropower plants, transmission lines, communications networks, schools, health facilities and water systems will require major investment. Rebuilding them exactly as they were would be a mistake if the same vulnerabilities remain. This is where international assistance can make a lasting difference. Nepal needs a detailed recovery and reconstruction plan based on a credible assessment of damage, losses and future risks.
Meanwhile, foreign support should go beyond replacing what the floods destroyed. At this testing time, Nepal should seek grants, concessional financing and technical assistance to rebuild stronger infrastructure and strengthen flood forecasting, river monitoring, early warning systems, landslide mapping and emergency communications. In settlements facing repeated or permanent risks, international support may also be needed for planned relocation, safer housing and livelihood recovery. The government should coordinate these efforts through a single mechanism so that different donors do not end up funding the same work while other urgent needs remain neglected. Foreign assistance should fit into Nepal’s reconstruction priorities rather than being driven by scattered donor interests. Domestic donations should also be properly recorded, with regular public reporting, independent audits and parliamentary oversight. The Bhotekoshi disaster should be a turning point for Nepal. The country has received an extraordinary show of solidarity at a time of immense loss. The government’s responsibility now is to turn that goodwill into meaningful recovery. Saving lives comes first. Restoring livelihoods comes next. But the final goal must be to rebuild stronger and safer communities so that the next flood or landslide does not produce the same scale of tragedy.
