Kerala Floods: Centre releases aid of Rs 600 crore, will not accept foreign donations

Earlier, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered USD 100 million (around Rs 700 crore) as financial assistance for flood relief operation in Kerala.

AFP PHOTO / INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

New Delhi: The government will not accept any foreign financial assistance for flood relief operations in Kerala.  More than 300 people have lost their lives since August 8 in Kerala's worst floods in decades which also forced more than 10 lakh people out of their houses. The government is likely to solely rely on domestic efforts to tide over the situation. The Centre on Tuesday had released financial assistance of Rs 600 crore to the Kerala government. This includes the central assistance of Rs 500 crore as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Rs 100 crore announced by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered USD 100 million (around Rs 700 crore) as financial assistance for flood relief operation in Kerala. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, called up Prime Minister Modi and made the offer for assistance, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in Thiruvananthapuram. Around three million Indians live and work in the UAE out of which 80 per cent are from Kerala. The government of Maldives has also decided to donate USD 50,000 (Rs 35 lakh) for flood-affected people in Kerala. It the UN is also offering some assistance for Kerala. The floods in Kerala, worst in a century, have claimed lives of 231 people besides rendering over 14 lakh people homeless.