Fire leaves 20-member Bahraini family homeless

A 20-member Bahraini family remains homeless after a fire devastated their residence in Buquwa village in the Northern Governorate last week. The family, who apparently lived in a ‘matchbox-like’ home, is currently staying with neighbours until a better solution could be offered to them by the authorities.

Speaking to DT News yesterday, the area’s representative MP Ghazi Al Rahma informed that representatives of Labour and Social Development Ministry immediately visited the site with him and inspected the damaged house.

“The family was offered a temporary shelter at Dar Al Karama Homeless and Beggars Shelter of the Ministry, but they preferred to stay in the area with neighbours and friends for the time being,” the MP said.

According to Al Rahma, the dramatic twist was that “a member of the family, Hassan Abdulaziz, has been living with his 7-member family in one room, as he has been awaiting a housing unit since 1994.”

The lawmaker confirmed that he brought the matter to the attention of Housing Ministry, which promised that it would immediately follow-up the man’s 22-year-old request for a housing unit.

The MP appreciated the prompt response of the Ministry’s Undersecretary Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa to the humanitarian case. He also thanked both Housing and Labour and Social Development Ministries, headed Ministers Bassem Alhamer and Jameel Humaidan.

Al Rahma called for a swift interference from all the concerned authorities to save the family, explaining that “their house is so tiny, a full family is living in a room that is smaller than 9 square metres.”

He added: “I’m now cooperating with the municipal representative of the area, Hamad Al Dossary, to urgently present the family’s case before the Northern Municipal Council to discuss whether to compensate them or revamp the house.”

 The fire, which occurred on Monday night, was caused by an electrical short-circuit. No injuries were reported in the accident, as all residents were evacuated.

Civil Defence personnel extinguished the fire and prevented it from spreading to the nearby buildings. However, the house was completely gutted.