UAE extends $100m of aid to flood-hit Kerala

The UAE government has extended $100m of financial aid to the Indian city of Kerala which has witnessed its worst flooding in a century.

The chief minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan thanked the UAE for its assistance.

“The UAE government is sharing our grief. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has spoken to Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). The UAE has offered assistance of $100m (Rs 700 crore),” he told reporters in India.

“Malayalis from all corners of the world have offered help. Millions of those Malayalis treat the Gulf countries as their second home,” he added.

The UAE announced the formation of an emergency committee to organise relief assistance for Kerala on Friday night.

Also read: UAE leaders offer support to flood-hit Indian state of Kerala

Chaired by the Emirates Red Crescent, it includes representatives from the UAE’s humanitarian organisations.

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Several UAE-based Indian businessmen have already contributed towards the cause.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare, has donated Dhs26m ($7m) to the campaign organised by the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation while Dubai-based GEMS Education founder and chairman Sunny Varkey committed Dhs5m to the special committee formed by the UAE to support emergency relief and rehabilitation work in Kerala.

An amount of Dhs5m each was also contributed to the Khalifa Foundation by Indian businessmen Yusuff Ali M.A., owner of the LuLu group and Dr B.R. Shetty, CEO and executive vice chairman of NMC Health.

Over 400 people have been killed in Kerala because of the heavy rains and flooding, and over one million who have been displaced are now seeking shelter in more than 3,200 relief camps.