India, Sept. 10 -- Nepal's flood recovery must balance urgent relief with long-term rebuilding, drawing lessons from the 2015 earthquake.

Cash transfers empower survivors and stimulate local markets, but funding must quickly shift from short-term aid to restoring livelihoods and infrastructure.

Housing decisions, corruption risks, and relocation from vulnerable riversides demand rapid, community-led planning that respects local skills and voices.

In the aftermath of the devastating flash floods in Nepal on August 26, the immediate priority was to save lives and meet the urgent needs of victims. But the relief efforts must also begin laying the foundations for the future.

This requires a delicate balancing act. The early days after a d...