An estimated 250 families living in a Sharjah high-rise building that was damaged in a fire on Thursday deserve a speedy resolution of their plight.
Some 40 families lost their homes while the rest have been affected by smoke and water damage as authorities and building inspectors try and gauge the extent of the damage.
Authorities in the emirate deserve credit for their quick response in ensuring that the immediate needs of the residents were met effectively. But there can be no let up in finding out the cause of this blaze and holding those responsible, if indeed, as residents suggest, the building was poorly maintained.
Working fire alarms and safety systems are not a luxury — they are an essential service and need to be properly maintained, regularly tested and must be working at all times.
What is disturbing is a claim by some residents that rental cheques were cashed after Thursday’s blaze. If that is indeed the case, let’s hope it was done as an oversight.
The main thing now is to ensure that all those affected are rehoused in an expedited manner.
