Leaving the Kerala government red-faced the UAE government said that it has not officially announced financial aid to Kerala for the floods. The UAE government added that they have constituted an emergency committee to review the situation in the state, and organise aid and relief for it.
“The assessment of relief needed for the flood and aftermath is ongoing. Announcing any specific amount as financial aid, I don’t think it is final, since it is still ongoing,” UAE Ambassador Ahmed Albanna told The Indian Express. When the newspaper asked if that meant they have not announced a Rs 700 crore aid package yet, he said, “Yes, that is correct. It is not yet final. It has not been announced.”
ALSO READ: India refuses foreign aid for Kerala flood relief
On 21 August, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Twitter to thank UAE for Rs 700 crore that they had reportedly offered the state in aid.
The chief minister had said that the crown prince of UAE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan had called Prime Minister Modi, and offered to donate that amount for Kerala flood relief.
While Albanna didn’t refute the claims directly, he told The Indian Express, “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 have 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.”
ALSO READ: Kerala floods: Rs 600 crore only advance aid, clarifies Centre
Following the news of UAE offering aid the central government was quick to point out that it is not going to accept foreign aid. The BJP and Kerala government have been at loggerheads on the issue since then. Kerala’s finance minister Thomas Issac was especially furious and lambasted the government for its alleged apathy.