Kerala Floods: UAE says yet to decide the amount of aid for relief work

New Delhi | Ahead of the controversy related to the acceptance of aid for the relief and rehabilitation work in Kerala, UAE today announced that it has not fixed any specific amount to be given as financial aid to help Kerala recover from the devastating floods.

Kerala is facing one of the worst floods in his history with a loss of 21,000 crores already been suffered by the state. More than 1 million people have been forced to stay in relief camps due to constant rains and flood like situation in the state. Speaking to media UAE’s ambassador to India, Ahmed Albana said “We have set up a national committee for aid to Kerala. The committee will work with the MEA (India’s foreign ministry) and the embassy to ensure the funds reach the needy.”

Albana further clarified that “No official announcement on the amount has been made by the UAE government yet.” Earlier on 18 August, UAE Prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted that “UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative.”

UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative. pic.twitter.com/7a4bHadWqa

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 17, 2018

Kerala Chief Minister P Vijayan informed on August 21 from his Facebook post that UAE will be providing a relief assistance of 700 crores. However, the Central government has said that it has not received any official request from the UAE to donate towards rebuilding flood-wrecked Kerala.