SHARJAH // Almost a month after a fire destroyed their homes, families who lived in a tower block have each received Dh50,000 in compensation to help get their lives back on track.
The cheques, issued after a decree by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, the Ruler of Sharjah, were awarded to 51 of the worst-affected families, in a brief ceremony yesterday at the department of housing.
The delighted former tenants of Al Baker 4 Tower, many of whom have been living in hotels or with relatives since the blaze, said they would use the cash to find new homes and start to rebuild their lives.
"I'm really grateful," said Siraje Hassan, an Ethiopian who plans to use his Dh50,000 to replace his belongings and reunite his family. "I had to send my family back to Addis Ababa and I've been staying with a friend. This week I will find a new flat, furnish it and bring them back next week."
Ehab Abdul Hamid, a Palestinian tenant, said he had been counting the days until the cheques were handed out and was very grateful.
"Just when we all turned hopeless and desperate watching the fire destroy all our property, Sheikh [Sultan] has made us happy and hopeful again," Mr Abdul Hamid said.
The Nigerian Godbless Damian was also full of praise for the Ruler after receiving his cheque.
"God bless him," Mr Damian said. "I don't even know how to thank him, but God bless him. God give him all he wants in this world. God give him a long and happy life."
The beneficiaries didn't waste any time in cashing their cheques, with many crowding into the nearby HSBC bank.
"It is better I get it directly in cash and see what I need to deposit in my own account, or what I need to use now," said Mohammed Asif Ali, from Afghanistan.
"All my neighbours are here to collect our money. We are all very happy."
Amanullah Jamal, an accounts manager at an IT company in Dubai, said he had been living in a small flat since the fire but was looking forward to using the cash to rent a larger flat.
"I have been staying in a small place with my wife, but now we will go and rent a bigger apartment like the one we had before with the money from His Highness," Mr Jamal said.
A total of 125 families were left homeless after the fire, but only those living on the back section of the tower, where the fire did the most damage, received the Dh50,000.
The remaining 74 tenants, including Samsul Alam, received no compensation despite also losing their homes.
"I also lost everything and have still not found a place to live," Mr Alam said.
He has been staying with relatives and arrived at the housing department yesterday hoping to receive some cash.
"All along I thought a cheque was coming to help me out," Mr Alam said. "Though we were in the front block, the foam used in firefighting spoilt all our property and we have been rendered homeless - we need help."
Jawdat Ayoub Thabit, a legal consultant for the department of housing, said: "The selection of who receives and who misses out on the compensation was done by a careful assessment of losses by the police.
"It was the police who recommended who deserved to receive and who did not."
About 16 beneficiaries did not turn up in time to receive their cheques yesterday, but Mr Thabit said they could come to the department at their convenience.