New Delhi: The UAE ambassador to India, Ahmed Albanna, is likely to visit flood-ravaged Kerala this week, TV reports said on Monday. The ambassador's visit comes even as a controversy rages over UAE's purported aid to the state.
Albanna will meet those affected by the worst floods in a century and will also interact with those engaged in relief works.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had last week said that the UAE had decided to extend a financial assistance of Rs 700 crore to Kerala, considering the Gulf nation's special relationship with Kerala. Around three million Indians live and work in the UAE, out of which 80 per cent are from Kerala.
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Days after the Kerala CM's announcement on the UAE offer, the Ministry of External Affairs made it clear that the Centre will not allow any financial assistance from overseas governments for Kerala in sync with an existing policy.
Read more: No doubt, UAE offered Rs 700cr aid, insists Pinarayi
As controversy raged, officials in UAE embassy clarified that no specific amount for financial aid to flood-ravaged Kerala has been finalised officially by the UAE and there was no announcement on donation to the state.
The heavy rain and floods have claimed over 230 lives in Kerala since August 8 and displaced 14 lakh people. The chief minister said the state was facing the biggest calamity in 100 years and preliminary estimate of losses comes around Rs 20,000 crore. More than 26,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed and crops spread over 40,000 hectares lost.
Read more: Latest Kerala news
