Blind, jobless father-of-four stuck after bank gets travel ban imposed
47-year-old diabetic lost his vision after undergoing laser procedure in Sharjah clinic
Dubai: A man who became jobless after losing his eyesight also got a travel ban imposed on him when his bank complained to the authorities about an outstanding loan.
The Sri Lankan, who had been working in the UAE for five years, lost his sight six months ago. Shortly thereafter he lost his job and received the ban.
Mohammad Mansour, 47, became blind after he went for a laser treatment in a clinic in Sharjah. He said he was diabetic and suffered from eye problems.
"My right eye was 80 per cent damaged and the left one was 20 per cent damaged," he told Gulf News on Sunday. Mansour said that after the laser procedure he lost vision completely.
"I am stuck here. When I stopped working the bank complained against me. I am blacklisted and there is a travel ban on me," he said.
Mansour worked as a helper in a clinic in Ajman. His salary could not meet his treatment expenses so he took out a loan six years ago, he said.
Mansour said the amount ballooned up to Dh80,000 over a period of time and included the loan and the money he took out from his credit card. "The money was to also for the edcuation of my children," he said.
Mansour is a father of four children. The eldest is 15 years old and the youngest is seven. His two older children are in Sri Lanka. The two younger ones, including a 10-year-old girl, live with him and his wife.
Small room
"I have to pay back the bank loan and only then can I go back to my country. I cannot work as I cannot see anything," he said.
Mansour said he and his family stay in a small room in Sharjah and survive on their friends' charity. His medical reports show that he has been a diabetic for the past 15 years and has high blood pressure.
A man who used to work with Mansour told Gulf News that the Sri Lankan is trapped here with his family.
"We are trying our best to help them in some way. He is in debt and he will not be able to pay the bank back anything because he is jobless and will not be able to work," the man said.
"He cannot survive like this. He must go to his family back home. We are empty-handed and we cannot do much for him."
How do you think the bank should handle this situation? Have you had a similar issue with your bank? Was it resolved?
