Beyond four walls: disasters and rising costs deepen Nepal’s struggle for safe and affordable housing
Summary
Floods and landslides have deepened Nepal’s housing crisis, leaving thousands displaced and many families unable to afford safe homes. A Habitat for Humanity study says rising housing costs are also forcing Nepalis to cut essential expenses and live with greater insecurity.
Key Points
- A flash flood in Rasuwa damaged 7,570 private homes along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, leaving residents like Pratima Lama homeless.
- Habitat for Humanity says recurring disasters and high housing costs are making safe, dignified housing increasingly inaccessible in Nepal.
- The study found that 70 percent of Nepalis struggle to pay housing-related expenses, while 72 percent feel unsafe in their homes due to extreme weather.
- Government efforts to ensure safe and affordable housing have lagged behind rising land prices, rent, and weak regulation.
