Nepal aid not exempted from ‘no remittance to charities abroad rule’

Abu Dhabi: Donations to charities in Nepal are not exempt from the existing government regulations restricting remittance to charities outside the UAE.

“People are not allowed to send money to charities outside the UAE and this is not new. We have not got any instructions from the government regarding any waiver [of this rule] regarding remittance to Nepal [following the massive destruction due to the deadly earthquake],” said Osama Al Rahma, Chairman of Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group (FERG).

The group is an official platform of the companies engaged in the business of money exchange and remittances in the UAE.

The government has streamlined all cash donations to charitable activities abroad through official organs such as the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Emirates Red Crescent, etc, to ensure transparency and avoid misuse.

Al Rahma said donors should donate cash to charities abroad through official organs as instructed by the government.

However, money exchange houses have been facilitating remittance to the Nepal Prime Minister’s Fund from individuals only since the earthquake occurred. But no remittance is transacted from individuals to any other charities in Nepal [as applicable to charities in all foreign countries], he clarified.

He clarified that exchange houses are not facilitating remittances from fundraisers, organisations or groups to even the Nepal Prime Minister’s fund.

Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty, Vice-Chairman of FERG and president, global, UAE Exchange, said his organisation has also been facilitating remittances to Nepal Prime Minister’s fund [being a government system to help earthquake victims] from individuals only without any charge. “We don’t entertain any groups or organisations at all. They [groups etc.] have to donate cash through the UAE government’s charity organs.”

Meanwhile a top Nepalese diplomat told Gulf News that he has not received any complaints so far about exchange houses or banks denying remittance from the UAE to the Nepal Prime Minister’s fund.

Dhananjay Jha, Nepalese Ambassador to the UAE, said the embassy has handed over more than 120 tonnes of relief materials to Emirates Red Crescent as of Tuesday. The embassy and Nepalese community organisations have been receiving relief materials from residents across the UAE.