By M M Special Correspondent
New Delhi : As Kerala is reeling under severe floods, financial and technical aid is pouring around the world.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended financial assistance for flood-hit Kerala. UAE has offered Rs 700 crore financial aid to rebuild the flood-ravaged state.
Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, through a series of tweets, had also urged everyone to contribute generously to provide relief to those affected.
“UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative,” he had said in one of his tweets.
The devastating floods in the state were declared a calamity of severe nature by the Home Ministry on Monday.
The Army, Navy, Indian Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force have been continuously engaged in rescue and relief operations in all the 14 flood-hit districts in Kerala.
Officials have so far admitted to some 370 deaths. .
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, also called up Prime Minister Modi and made the offer for assistance, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in Thiruvananthapuram.
However, the government is unlikely to accept any foreign financial assistance for flood relief operations in Kerala. Official sources say government has taken a considered decision to rely solely on domestic efforts to tide over the situation.
The government of Maldives has also decided to donate USD 50,000 (Rs 35 lakh) for flood affected people in Kerala.
It is also understood that the UN is also offering some assistance for Kerala.
However, sources said India is unlikely to accept the assistance.
