KATHMANDU — Nepal's Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the country would need at least $2 billion to rebuild homes, hospitals, government offices and historic buildings following the devastating earthquake that hit the Himalayan nation last Saturday and appealed for help from international donors. “This is just an initial estimate and it will take time to assess the extent of damage and calculate the cost of rebuilding,” Mahat told Reuters. The United Nations has said 8 million people had been affected, with at least 2 million in need of tents, water, food and medicines over the next three months. — Reuters
