Kerala Floods: UAE denies offering Rs 700 crore for relief amid Centre-state row over foreign aid

CM Vijayan had on Tuesday said that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered financial assistance of Rs 700 crores to “rebuild” Kerala, while speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone.

People being rescued from a flood-affected region following heavy monsoon rainfall, in Kochi. PTI Photo

New Delhi: As the Centre and the state indulge in a row over acceptance of foreign donation for the flood-ravaged state of Kerala, UAE has reportedly denied the reports of Rs.700 crore donations to the state. In what is being termed as a disappointment to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the ambassador of UAE has clarified that it has not yet made any official statement over any specific amount as financial aid. Talking to the Indian Express on Thursday, UAE Ambasaador Ahmed Albanna said that the assessment of relief needed for the flood and aftermath is still going on. Albanna said to the daily, ‘announcing any specific amount as financial aid, I don’t think it is final, since it is still ongoing’. When the daily asked if he meant that the UAE had not announced Rs 700 crore in aid, he said: “Yes, that is correct. It is not yet final. It has not been announced.” CM Vijayan on Tuesday said that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered financial assistance of Rs 700 crores to “rebuild” Kerala, while speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone. Citing India’s policy of meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts, the ministry of external affairs refused to take foreign aid. The Pinarayi Vijayan government on Thursday entered a slugfest with the Centre as the latter disapproved of taking financial foreign aid. "The National Disaster Management policy provides provisions to accept voluntary offers from foreign nations in the wake of calamities," the chief minister said in response to reports of the Centre's reluctance to accept UAE aid. The ambassador told the daily: “All that has happened is that UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has formed a national emergency committee. The main goal was to look into sourcing out funds, aid material, medicines and other things for our friendly people and friends in Kerala, who have been hit by the unfortunate flood.” In Kerala more than 300 people have lost their lives and thousands have been dislodged out of their homes in the unfortunate deluge.