Sharjah tower fire victims can claim emergency aid without ID

Sharjah: Blaze victims who lost every piece of identification to a 25-storey tower fire last week can still lay claim to new emergency funding, an official confirmed on Monday.

To secure the Dh50,000 for each family that was unveiled on Saturday, tenants need only verification from Sharjah Police and the Department of Housing.

The new emergency aid was provided by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

"People who lost everything in the fire, including all of their documents, have to report the lost items to police who will then issue a valid attested report," said a Sharjah Department of Housing official.

Once in hand, the police document should then be handed over to the housing department who will then check the claims against records at government offices.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, and officials estimate that affected tenants could receive their relief funding late next week.

Certified cheques

Once a master list is compiled, it will be referred to the Finance Department at the Government of Sharjah who is expected to release the funding through certified cheques.

"Not everybody will receive the full amount," said the official, who pointed out that the amount awarded will vary according to each family's plight.

The fire at the residential high-rise tower at Al Taawun area left as many as 135 families seeking temporary shelter from local charities, including Sharjah Charity, the Red Crescent and Sharjah Club. Despite their best efforts, a handful of families are resorting to sleeping in their cars.

Donations are also pouring in from concerned residents, who are dropping off clothes, furniture and other items at Al Qasba.

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

"We are trying to create new fire safety standards for all residential buildings. Since the fire started, official agencies have helped the families and we are all cooperating to help the families move on," said Brigadier General Abdullah Al Suwaidi, director-general of Sharjah Civil Defence.

The fire tore through the building in the early hours of January 25 and was put out within four hours.