Nepal has tallied approximately $586 million in damages from the so-called "Gen Z anti-government protests" that left 77 people dead. The government has launched reconstruction efforts through donations, but funding remains severely insufficient.
Nepal's interim government announced Wednesday that damages from the anti-government protests that erupted in September totaled $586 million, according to Reuters.
The protests resulted in fires that destroyed public and private facilities including the prime minister's office, the Supreme Court, the National Assembly building, politicians' residences, and hotels. A committee established to assess the damage estimates reconstruction costs will exceed $252 million.
The interim government has set up a fund to collect reconstruction money. However, donations from citizens and institutions have reportedly reached only $1 million so far. The government has not yet announced plans to cover the funding shortfall.
The protests erupted in September after the government blocked access to 26 social media platforms including YouTube and Facebook. Members of Generation Z, frustrated with the government's passive approach to fighting corruption and promoting economic growth, joined the demonstrations en masse, spreading them from the capital Kathmandu to other cities.
Prime Minister Sharma Oli and several cabinet ministers resigned, but the situation worsened as protesters set fire to the presidential residence and the prime minister's home.
Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. The crackdown left 77 people dead, including three police officers, and injured approximately 2,000 others. About 30 of the dead were killed by live ammunition.
Nepal's interim government is scheduled to hold general elections on March 5 next year.
