Sharjah
The muti-storey buildings have staircases in addition to elevators to enable residents to either climb up or down when the elevator isn’t functional or in case of an emergency. But, I am shocked to see that in some buildings the staircases are converted into storage spaces, where the residents leave unwanted furniture and other household belongings.
This blocks the emergency exits and hinders the movement of any resident who wants to use the staircase in case of an emergency or if the elevator isn’t working. A few days ago, the elevator in our building wasn’t functional, and I missed my school bus because I was unable to access the stairs, as they were blocked by broken chairs. To make matters worse, sometimes the staircases have no lighting, leaving them in darkness and unsafe to use.
These emergency exits should be properly and regularly looked after for the safety and convenience of the residents.
— The reader is a pupil based in Sharjah.
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