Reconsider stance on foreign relief funds: MP

With the State embarking on the Herculean task of providing relief and reconstructing infrastructure and property destroyed in the floods, CPI(M) MP P. Karunakaran has urged the Centre to reconsider its stance not to seek assistance offered by foreign nations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The Centre’s stance not to accept any monetary assistance from other nations though quite a few of them had expressed their willingness to support Kerala needs to be condemned,” Mr. Karunakaran said in a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.

The Centre should reconsider its stance at a time when the global community, including the United Nations, have come forward to provide monetary assistance to mitigate the plight of the flood-ravaged, Mr. Karunakaran said.

‘No bar on receiving aid’

The special action plan drawn out by the Union Home Ministry in 2016 to tackle disaster situations had made it amply clear that the affected nation could receive foreign funds, including those extended by the United Nations, Mr. Karunakaran said.

‘India can accept aid’

Mr. Karukaran added that India could well accept foreign financial assistance to supplement the relief operations in Kerala.