'Compensation, Not Charity': Nepal Wants India, China, US To 'Pay' For Floods - NDTV

**Nepal Demands Compensation, Not Charity, for Flood Damage**

Kathmandu – After a series of unprecedented monsoon floods that killed more than 150 people, displaced tens of thousands and caused damage estimated at over **$1 billion** to infrastructure and agriculture, Nepal’s prime minister **Balen Shah** has publicly asked India, China and the United States to provide *compensation* rather than mere charitable aid. While the governments of New Delhi and Beijing have already dispatched emergency relief teams, food supplies and temporary shelters, Shah emphasized that the scale of destruction far exceeds the capacity of short‑term assistance. “We are grateful for the immediate help, but the losses are structural and long‑lasting. We need responsibility, not charity,” he told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal outlined a formal claim that includes reimbursement for damaged roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and loss of agricultural output, as well as a request for funding to rebuild climate‑resilient housing. The prime minister signaled that, should bilateral negotiations stall, Kathmandu may take the issue to the **United Nations** for mediation, citing the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” under the Paris Agreement. The United States, which has pledged $20 million in humanitarian assistance, was also named in the demand, prompting a diplomatic note that Washington is reviewing the request in consultation with its regional partners.

Local communities illustrate the human toll behind the numbers. In the flood‑ravaged district of **Sindhuli**, a two‑storey “miracle house” built on stilts survived the deluge while surrounding structures were swept away, highlighting the stark contrast between traditional, climate‑adapted architecture and vulnerable, low‑lying dwellings. Relief agencies are now focusing on rebuilding with elevated designs and flood‑resilient materials. The demand for compensation underscores a growing sentiment in South Asia that climate‑induced disasters are not merely natural events but also political and economic challenges requiring shared responsibility among the region’s most influential nations.