Residents urged to donate to rebuild flood-hit Kerala

UAE residents can donate relief materials to rebuild flood-battered Kerala in an initiative organised by the Emirates Red Crescent and an Indian Volunteer Group.

On Thursday, All Kerala College Alumnis Federation (Akcaf) volunteer group announced partnering in an one-month aid initiative with the Emirates Red Crescent.

The collection drive will start today at Grand Mall in Sharjah and Satwa in Dubai. It will continue at 29 malls and hypermarket chains across the UAE from Ajman to Abu Dhabi.

The inaugural ceremony in Sharjah will see a special song to show solidarity to the victims affected by Kerala floods. The rest of the locations will be announced in the coming days, officials said.

Paul Joseph, managing director of Arabian Automobile Association, told the media that the funds collected will be used in purchasing materials that will help rebuild Kerala. "Detergents, blankets and food are necessary items that people need. We have had good response from the public who wish to donate and help people in Kerala," said Joseph.

The Akcaf group has been actively involved in the flood relief work in Kerala, especially the ongoing clean-up drive after the floods.

Mohammed Al Zarooni, director of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) in Dubai, said the UAE government has ordered immediate aid for people in Kerala. "Our teams are working there. Since the administrative and relief situation in India made it difficult to ship materials, we mostly send money and our teams buy the required items from local stores," said Al Zarooni. "We have donated clothes, blankets and food to schools that some people have taken as relief camps."

As part of the initiative, the ERC gave donation boxes to the volunteering group to collect funds and relief items. So far, the charity organisation has collected over 25 tonnes of food and clothes in warehouses, which await to be shipped for the relief of people in Kerala.

India did not reject foreign aid