Kathmandu, August 29 (QNA) - Nepalese authorities have estimated the cost of rebuilding areas affected by the devastating floods that struck its border regions with China last week at between USD 4 and USD 5 billion.
Nepalese Finance Minister Swarnim Wagli said the current estimates are preliminary, as the process of assessing losses and damages caused by the disaster continues.
In a related context, Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisher Khanal announced that his country needs foreign assistance in specialized and technical fields where it lacks the necessary expertise, but does not require assistance in search and rescue operations.
India; China; US, UK; Japan; South Korea; Sri Lanka; and Bangladesh have all submitted requests to the Nepalese government to allow their search and rescue teams to participate in the efforts to address the aftermath of this disaster.
Last Wednesday's avalanche sent a massive torrent of rock, ice, mud, and debris hurtling through mountain river networks in the Himalayas, triggering devastating floods that have killed more than 600 people in Nepal and the Tibet region of China, while more than 2,000 remain missing. (QNA)