Sharjah court steps in to handle backlog of fire victims' claims

Sharjah: Police are no longer handling claims regarding lost identification by burned-out Al Baker Tower victims seeking emergency compensation.

Sharjah court has now stepped in to handle the backlog of claims concerning personal belongings and identification documents that were lost in the fire.

Court validated documents will be forwarded to the Department of Housing, to check against tenancy contracts on file.

Tomorrow is the deadline for last-minute applicants to submit the necessary documents, otherwise they will run the risk of being disqualified from a Dh50,000 relief funding announced on Saturday by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Former tenants were in for a surprise yesterday as they followed up with police to file a record of all their personal belongings that were destroyed in a fire, which gutted the 25-storey building in Al Taawun.

Individual basis

"Police said they could not help me and that I had to visit Sharjah Court to acquire the necessary documents if I wanted to receive governmental compensation," said a resident from Flat 604.

"I had a photocopy of my tenancy contract and was lucky enough to have kept my family's passports at the office. I went to court and they gave me a letter, validating my claims," said the father of one.

An official from the Department of Housing explained that only tenants who had lost everything in the fire would be compensated for the full grant.

"There are tenants who lost everything and there were some who were not affected that much since their homes faced the front facade. We will study each case on an individual basis and compensate them fairly," said the official.

"We have received queries from shops who also want compensation because they lost their business for several days, but this aid is solely for tenants and not for shop owners," emphasised the official.

Former tenants of Al Baker Tower are required to hand over a copy of their passport and tenancy contract to the housing department to lay claim on the governmental assistance. Officials estimate that once the master list is compiled tomorrow, it will be referred to the Finance Department at the Government of Sharjah who is expected to release the funding through certified cheques.

Temporary shelter

Nevertheless, the Department of Housing spokesperson stressed that tenants should visit the department in the face of any confusion at Sharjah Court.

The fire at the residential high-rise tower in the Al Taawun area left as many as 135 families seeking temporary shelter from local charities, including Sharjah Charity, the Red Crescent and Sharjah Club.

Fire victims who had a good support system were able to restart their lives from scratch and search for new apartments, while others were not so lucky and reportedly sent their families back to their home countries while they stayed with friends or relied on charity associations to provide them with accommodation at hotel apartments.