Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on August 21 that United Arab Emirates has pledged to offer Rs 700 crore as relief for the flood-hit state.
Earlier, the UAE government had announced that it had set up a national emergency committee to oversee rescue work done in Kerala, The Times of India reported.
CM Vijayan has also called for an all-party meeting in Thiruvananthapuram to assess the flood situation. Although the Centre announced the floods as a disaster of serious nature, it still hasn't termed it as a 'natural calamity' yet.
UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted about the floods in Kerala, urging his countrymen to provide assistance in every possible way. UAE's population comprises of 2 million Indians which is almost 27 percent of their entire population, reports TOI.
Sheikh Mohammad tweeted, "The state of Kerala in India is currently witnessing huge floods, the most devastating in a century. Hundreds have killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Ahead of Eid Al Adha, do not forget to extend a helping hand to our brothers in India. [sic]"
The state of Kerala in India is currently witnessing huge floods, the most devastating in a century. Hundreds have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Ahead of Eid Al Adha, do not forget to extend a helping hand to our brothers in India. pic.twitter.com/cHe4CWzrpO
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 17, 2018
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, especially during this holy and blessed days pic.twitter.com/ZGom5A6WRy
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 17, 2018
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 500 crore as relief for Kerala in addition to the Rs 100 crore announced by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had also announced Rs 10 crore for the relief fund.
Chief Minister Pinaray Vijayan personally provided Rs 1 lakh to the Chief Minister's Relief Distress Fund. Other states, individuals, and heads of states have also provided funds to the state of Kerala.
Along with this, celebrities like Sharh Rukh Khan, Jacqueline Fernandes, Surya, Siddharth, Kamal Hasan and others have donated generously for the relief and rehabilitation fo the state.
CM Vijayan announced on Monday that the first phase of the relief work has come to an end and the next phase would focus on relief and rehabilitation, reports Indian Express.