(Image source from: Tribune India)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Indian-origin billionaire entrepreneurs have proclaimed contribution of Rs. 125 million for the flood-hit Kerala for flood relief operations, according to a media report.
In the scenic state, about 164 people have lost their lives since August 8 due to floods caused by heavy rains and landslides, while more than 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps.
According to a report by Khaleej Times, a Kerala-born businessman Yusuff Ali MA, chairman and managing director of Lulu Group, has announced an Rs. 50 million donations for rain-battered Kerala.
The chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group KP Hussain has donated Rs. 50 million. He said that Rs. 10 million out of Rs. 50 million will straightaway go to the Kerala Chief Minister's relief fund, while the remainder will be allocated for medical relief aid, the Gulf paper added.
Hussain said that his group has coordinated with the state's health secretary to send volunteers from its medical faculty. This includes doctors and paramedics being sent to relief camps.
"As per our geological studies and today's condition in Kerala, the stagnant water will be drained much later than expected. Hence, there is a high possibility of more deaths in the event of the spread of various diseases like fever, dysentery, gastric issues, skin disorders etc," he was quoted as saying by the paper.
"This situation needs to be handled very seriously and emergency treatment has to be provided with immediate effect. As recommended by the public health secretary, we have received the list of medicines which will be supplied to the relief camps."
In order to aid in flood relief operations, other UAE-based business community had sworn sum of money.
India-born billionaire BR Shetty, chairman of Unimoni and UAE Exchange, had pledged Rs. 20 million.
Indian physician and philanthropist Azad Moopen, and founder chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, sworn Rs. 5 million. The group likewise announced that it had gathered a disaster support team of over 300 volunteers.
Earlier this week, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the United Arab Emirates prime minister, and Dubai ruler came out in an assist for deluge-hit Kerala and ordered the formation of an emergency committee to render relief to the victims hit by annihilating rainfall and deluge in the state.
The Indian community in the UAE, which is a sizable expatriate community in the country constitutes 30 percent of the entire population - numbering 2.6 million.
By Sowmya Sangam
