Expats use social media to help victims
PEOPLE ARE USING #KERALAFLOODS ONLINE TO DELIVER AID
In the past few days, floods in Kerala have become a cause of grave concern for UAE expatriates hailing from the Indian state. For many, the weekend was spent watching news updates while trying to reach friends and family members back home.
Indian expatriates make up nearly 27 per cent of the UAE population. Of these, a sizeable number are Keralites. However, distance did not keep Malayalis from helping out the victims in their flood-stricken state. Using the hashtag #KeralaFloods, expatriates here joined Keralites from across the globe in sending financial and humanitarian aid. But that was not all.
Many came together to use social media to volunteer by collecting relief items and even transporting them. Many others shared emergency numbers and coordinated to connect victims with rescue missions through social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Yesterday, Facebook user Subramaniya Chidambaram posted: “Volunteers have contributed below things for Kerala flood relief... praying for people who are in Kerala.” Dubaibased expat Vijay Babu, 30, has many friends whose houses were submerged in flood waters. With the help of some of his UAE-based social media friends, helped those who are battling the floods. Babu told Gulf News: “I put up a post on my Facebook wall with the idea of sending relief items to people in need. Many of my friends from Kerala, who live in different parts of the UAE, have joined in to volunteer. Together, we collected non-perishable food like rice, lentils etc, clothes, baby food and other essential items. We are in touch with a couple of cargo companies in the UAE, which are providing free service till August 20, to send the items to a trust in Wayanad.”
Twitter user @minicnair posted: “the Malayali Mum’s Association from Dubai sent one container of essentials yesterday, two today to Kerala. #KeralaFloodRelief. Thank you ...!” Keralites were not the only ones to help. Popular Emirati vlogger Khalid Al Ameri uploaded a video on his social media channels, requesting support for victims of the flood.