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Nepal: 'billions' needed to rebuild

Tuesday, May 05, 2015 - 02:15

As the death toll from a devastating earthquake continues to rise, ordinary Nepalis are facing a massive challenge to restore any semblance of normality to their lives - with questions asked over where longer-term assistance will come from. David Pollard reports.

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Krishna was working as a maid in a Kathmandu hostel when it struck. Days later she's pulled from the rubble - a miracle she's still alive. The death toll from Nepal's devastating earthquake is still rising fast - and could, says the prime minister, reach ten thousand. But rescue scenes like this give hope - that life can go on. Even if business will struggle to, for some time yet. The Thamel district of the city is normally packed with tourists. As the sun goes down, few local traders are confident enough to open their shutters to shoppers. For those that do, it's an act of faith. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 40-YEAR OLD SHOP VENDOR, RAMESH PRASAD, SAYING: "I pray with God. I really believe if people do good karma, the situation will get back to normal soon." More than a week after the disaster, only an estimated one in five shops are open for business in the capital. Nepal now facing massive challenges. The United Nations says six hundred thousand houses were destroyed - eight million people affected. At least two million need tents, water, food and medicines. And with some complaining the government's too slow to distribute emergency aid, there are questions over where longer-term help will come from. Jan Randolph is from IHS Global Insight. SOUNDBITE (English) IHS GLOBAL INSIGHT, JAN RANDOLPH, SAYING (English): ''The biggest nearest neighbour, India, stands with the most resources and ability to do something. But obviously the international community will work through India to get to Nepal - it's really the only realistic way of getting there. They're reliant on India for all sorts of other reasons: infrastructure, electricity supply and such like. '' The Nepalese finance ministry says at least two billion dollars is needed to rebuild homes, hospitals and government offices. It's appealed to international donors. SOUNDBITE (English) IHS GLOBAL INSIGHT, JAN RANDOLPH, SAYING (English): ''It will be the NGOs, supported by governments, bilateral aid. But also the multilaterals - the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and even the IMF. I think they will all be party, will participate and will help where they can. And they've had some experience with this in the past, the most example being with ebola in West Africa.'' Four out of five buildings are said to have been destroyed in the worst hit areas. The scale of reconstruction in those will, it's said, be 'unprecedented'.