Indian billionaire in UAE gives Dh3.5m to flood victims

  DUBAI - UAE-based Indian billionaire Yusuff Ali M.A. is pouring in Dh3.5 million in funds to aid those affected by floods in Kerala. Yusuff Ali, who owns Lulu Group International, confirmed on Sunday that he made a donation of Rs5 crores (Dh2.56 million) to the Kerala chief minister’s relief fund. Last week he also donated 2 crores (Dh1 million) to two Kerala-based publications for their ongoing flood assistance initiatives. This brings Yusuff Ali's total calamity assistance to Dh3.5 million. “This is one of the worst times for Kerala and my heart goes out to the people whose suffering are beyond imagination,” said the Indian businessman, who is also from Kerala. “I just pray and hope that we all come together at these testing times and do whatever we can to bring some solace to the lives of millions of our brothers and sisters,” added the businessman who first arrived in Abu Dhabi in 1973 to help with a relative's business. Flash floods in Kerala have killed 37 people and displaced around 36,000, after heavy monsoons led to landslides and overflowing reservoirs across the southern state. "Our state is in the midst of an unprecedented flood havoc," Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote in a statement posted on Twitter. "The calamity has caused immeasurable misery and devastation. Many lives were lost. Hundreds of homes were totally destroyed," he added, lauding the efforts of rescue teams from across India. GAD/Expat 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