Dubai: More than 200 residents of Al Shamsi building, which was gutted by a massive fire last week, have been resettled by the combined assistance of the building’s owner, a volunteer organisation and the Philippines Consulate General in Dubai.
The fire ravaged at least half of the 48 apartments in the three blocks of the building located on Salah Al Deen Street in Deira, Dubai, rendering around 400 residents homeless.
However, the owner of the ill-fated building has offered temporary accommodation to half the affected residents who had nowhere to go. The temporary accommodation is located at a brand new building in Hor Al Anz, near Al Talal supermarket.
The other half of the residents have been taken care of by a number of firms, who had staff accommodations at Al Shamsi building.
Incidentally, most of those affected by Monday night’s blaze are Filipinos and dozens of Filipino expats as well as a Filipino volunteer organisation and the Philippines Consulate General have come together to provide relief to the victims.
“As of now, we are delivering boxes of relief material to the temporary accommodations. Those affected have been put up in 19 apartments and each unit is receiving two boxes containing an assortment of daily use items,” said Roy Silvano, executive director of Filipino social group, Sangguniang Masang Pilipino International Inc (SMPII), which is coordinating the relief efforts.
The relief boxes contain rice, noodles, coffee, sugar, toiletries and other essential goods.
Silvano said a lot of individuals are coming forward to donate washing machines, refrigerators and other necessary home appliances.
Among the items distributed are folding mattresses, bedsheets and clothes.
“We are overwhelmed by the support we have received. Strangers have come forward to help us and we are grateful to everyone. I want to thank the building owner for providing the temporary accommodation. At least we have a place to stay for three months, enough time to make new arrangements,” said Vivencio Pascaul, one of the residents affected by the fire.
On Saturday, 64 staff members of Little Manila restaurant, who were accommodated at Al Shamsi building by the restaurant chain, held a prayer meeting.
