KERALA FLOOD RELIEF FUND TO GET £79.20 million FROM UAE

Worst flood hit India’s Southern State Kerala is expected to receive donations worth 79.23 million GBP for relief and rehabilitation works from United Arab Emirates (UAE) government and Indian origin billionaire business tycoons based in the UAE.

According to media reports, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday (21) informed that UAE has extended 5.44 billion pounds as financial aid to rebuild flood-hit regions in Kerala. The announcement came a couple of days after the Gulf nation announced that it would form a national emergency committee to lend its support for flood relief operations in India’s flood-hit southern state.

The national emergency committee will be led by the Emirates Red Crescent and will consist of representatives from UAE based humanitarian groups, associations, organisations, and others. The UAE government is also expected to get suggestions from the dignitaries of Indian community residing in UAE to move ahead with its support for relief operations.

The UAE has been one of the first countries to provide its financial support to Kerala. "The people of Kerala have always been and are still part of our success story in the UAE. We have a special responsibility to help and support those affected," UAE's Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Tweeted on August 17, soon after the state became a victim of heavy floods, landslides triggered by torrential rains.

Indian born businessmen who are residing in UAE have also decided to lend their assistance to Kerala state. Among the many donors, Kerala origin businessman, Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman and Managing Director of Lulu Group has come forward with a donation of 0.56 million pounds to the flood victims in Kerala, according to a report published by Khaleej Times, a UAE English daily.

Fathima Healthcare Group Chairman KP Hussain has also announced a sum of 0.56 million pounds out of which 0.11 million pounds will directly move to Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, while rest is expected to be distributed as medical relief aid, the newspaper highlighted. Speaking to the newspaper, Hussian said that his company has coordinated with the state to send his medical team including, doctors, paramedics, and others to the relief camps to support the flood victims who are suffering from health-related issues.

"As per our geological studies and today's condition in Kerala, the stagnant water will be drained much later than expected. Hence, there is a high possibility of more deaths in the event of spread of various diseases like fever, dysentery, gastric issues, skin disorders, and others," he was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.

India’s Karnataka state origin billionaire BR Shetty, Chairman of Unimoni and UAE Exchange, has pledged to donate 0.22 million pounds for relief works being carried out in Kerala. Azad Moopen, Indian Physician and Philanthropist, and Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, has also assured to donate 0.056 million pounds. His group has also announced that it has sent team of over 300 volunteers to lend their support for flood relief operations.

In UAE, as many as 2.6 million members of the Indian community constitute 30 per cent of the Gulf country’s total population making it as the largest expatriate community in the UAE.

Kerala has witnessed most devastating floods in a century as more than one million people have moved to relief camps to save their lives from floods and landslides that have killed more than 410 people as on Tuesday (21) since monsoon showers started this year a government official said.

As many as 50, 000 homes have been destroyed in the floods as a result of torrential rains. A total of 1,028,000 people are temporarily staying in about 3,274 relief camps across Kerala state, a state government spokesman told on Tuesday (21).

The total number of deaths, homes destroyed in the floods, people displaced are expected to rise further in upcoming days as relief and rehabilitation works are still in their initial stage. The sources said that the state has lost over 163.16 billion GBP due to either loss or damage to property.