Sharjah: The families affected by Tuesday's massive fire tried to get their lives back on track yesterday after they lost their passports and personal belongings in the blaze.
The UAE Red Crescent and the Sharjah Charity Organisation immediately collaborated to offer some respite to the victims until they manage to get their lives back to normal.
Some of the victims told media outside the Amwaj Hotel, one of the three hotels where the displaced families have been offered to stay, that they were thankful that they at least managed to escape the horrendous fire that gutted the 14-storey residential building.
Egyptian teacher Mustafa Jamal Adeen, who has lived in the UAE since 1968, narrated the events during the unfortunate incident and said that he was asleep when the fire broke out.
Evacuation
"I woke up to the loud noises of the police evacuation drills and only saw darkness around me. The Rescue Unit on the staircase was telling everyone to leave the building. I yelled out and then two people helped me get down the stairs, I then met my wife outside on the street waiting for me," he explained.
"My wife and I lost everything in our home and we have nothing left. The Mercedes Benz car parked outside was also destroyed, but we are happy to be alive."
Up to 56 people are currently being accommodated at Amwaj Hotel, Al Dhiyafa Palace Hotel and Rayan Hotel, all on the expense of the UAE Red Crescent.
Rafidah Hamza, from Sudan, was staying at her relative's house on the third floor while on a visit to the UAE.
"I ran outside without any shoes and was only wearing my Sudanese wraparound. The police brought me to this hotel and I have to keep going to Al Hera police station to get some documents so that I can find a way back home, with the help of the Sudanese Consulate in Dubai."
Assistance
The Red Crescent are also providing the victims with clothes, meals and toiletries until they can afford their own accommodation.
"The Ministry of Interior is now following up on the victims' cases to help them get their official and identification documents," said Salah Salman Abdul Rahman, public relations officer from the Red Crescent.
Salih Eid Al Shuwain, Head of Assistance Division at Sharjah Charity Organisation, said they were offering all the displaced families up to Dh2,000 in cash to help them rebuild their lives.
"We have given between Dh1,500 to Dh2,000 to all the people staying in the hotels provided by the Red Crescent, and we will also provide any necessary assistance if the victims so require," said Al Shuwain.
Officials have confirmed that there no deaths as a result of the fire that gutted nearly 200 apartments.
Colonel Wahid Al Sarkal, Director of Sharjah Civil Defence, pointed out that the fire was put out on Tuesday night, and that the flames had also burnt four apartments in a nearby abandoned building.
"We continued the cooling process till yesterday morning, and afterwards sent a team of firefighters to check that there were no bodies in the building. The Forensic Laboratory of Sharjah Police is now conducting an investigation to find out the cause of the fire."
