The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday said that it has not finalised any specific amount of monetary assistance for flood-ravaged Kerala.

The clarification comes amid a raging controversy over the Centre rejecting foreign aid for the southern state, where over 350 people were killed and multitudes displaced due to heavy rains.

UAE ambassador Ahmed Albannam said his government has only set up a national emergency committee to provide relief assistance to people affected by flash floods in Kerala. “Our administration has not officially announced any financial aid for flood relief. We have not conveyed anything to India about any assistance,” he added.

Albannam, however, said that the UAE may come up with a new plan to extend aid to flood victims over the next few days.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – prime minister and ruler of Dubai  had tweeted on August 18 that his country has formed a committee for extending aid to flood-hit people in Kerala. ”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 posted on the social networking site.

Earlier this week, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the UAE has decided to extend financial assistance of up to Rs 700 crore to Kerala. 

However, the ministry of external affairs announced a few days later that the Centre will not allow any financial assistance from other countries in keeping with an existing policy introduced by former prime minister Manmohan Singh. 

Nevertheless, it added that non-resident Indians, persons of foreign origin and international NGOs were more than welcome to contribute to the chief minister’s relief fund and the prime minister’s relief fund.

Vijayan expressed unhappiness over the Centre’s assertion, and stated that he would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

According to official figures, around 80% of the three million Indians who live and work in the UAE hail from Kerala.

Inputs : PTI feed