Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi relief fund for hard-hit families hailed as vital lifeline

Dozens of parents approached schools to sign up for financial assistance

A fruit vendor with his watermelons at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National

A vegetable vendor fixes his gloves at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National

A key worker wears a facemask as he walks passed a brightly coloured mural in Media City, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A deserted part of JBR, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A digger does some work on an empty Jumeirah beach, this is normally a very popular spot for beach goers, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National

A poster on Sheikh Zayed Road shows a family wearing facemasks tell people to Stay at home, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A man walks past fishing boats in Ajman wearing a mask amid the coronavirus crisis. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A market worker boxes up fish at Ras Al Khaimah's dock. Antonie Robertson / The National

Empty streets in RAK as residents stay home for a third week. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of the Northern Emirates must stay home from 8pm to 6am, but can leave home to shop for essentials outside of those times. Antonie Robertson / The National

A sign outside Dubai Parks and Resorts offers support to frontline workers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

No entry signs at the closed Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A street cleaner sanitises gutters at Marina Mall car park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The normally busy beaches of Abu Dhabi have been deserted in recent weeks. Victor Besa / The National

A shopper picks up essentials at Carrefour in Dubai's Ibn Battuta Mall. Dubai residents must apply for a permit to leave home. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The only vehicles on Dubai's roads are delivery trucks, bike couriers and minibuses taking essential personnel to and from work. Victor Besa / The National

The empty Al Maktoum Road near Deira Clock Tower in Dubai. It would normally be one of the city's busiest streets. Pawan Singh / The National

A 24-hour stay-home order and the disinfecting of streets has left Dubai streets mostly deserted. Pawan Singh / The National

The famous Deira Clock Tower at the heart of the city's old town. Pawan Singh / The National

The bridge to Meydan hotel and racecourse stands empty on Saturday evening. Reem Mohammed / The National

A shopkeeper waits outside his dress store in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An ambulance on a street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A quiet street leads to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand mosque in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The empty bridge to Meydan during daytime. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dubai residents must remain indoors at all times, unless they have a permit for essential shopping. Reem Mohammed / The National

Residents queue outside a supermarket in the Muraqqabat area of Deira in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A customer enters a pharmacy in Dubai. Pharmacies and supermarkets are the only stores allowed to remain open to the public. Pawan Singh / The National

A man rides his bike across the street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A medical worker in a booth prepares to swab residents at a drive-through test centre in the Dubai suburb of Khawaneej. AFP

Dubai skyline during lockdown. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man takes a taxi after leaving the Business Bay Metro station, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

An awareness board on Meydan road, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The empty Kite Beach area of Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A healthcare worker crosses an empty street in Bur Dubai while wearing a mask amid the coronavirus outbreak. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A gentleman crosses an empty street in Oud Metha in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Men in face mask walking by nurseries in Warsan. Reem Mohammed / The National

Parents and schools in Abu Dhabi have said a new relief fund to support struggling families will ensure children do not miss out on crucial learning.

This week, the government established a public fund, worth tens of millions of dirhams, to help Emiratis and residents who have lost jobs or been forced to take pay cuts as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on finances as well as public health.

Families can apply to receive financial support to pay school fees, ask for devices to help children with distance learning, and money to pay for food and rent.

The Together We Are Good initiative is being run by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an – with the support of Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge.

Muneer Ansari, director at the International Indian School in Abu Dhabi, said 12 families had signed up to the initiative since Monday.

Fees at the school range from Dh10,500 for kindergarten to Dh11,500 annually for grade nine.

Ramadan will be here soon, and many people have families here, thus needing more resources at this time

"This initiative is what we need. Parents have started receiving salary reductions and have been put on unpaid leave," Mr Ansari said.

"This initiative is targeted specifically for those who are vulnerable and cannot afford to pay fees."

He said parents were struggling to obtain the required documents from their employers to prove they had taken pay cuts.

"The majority of companies have not issued anything in writing stating salaries have been reduced."

The school offered a 30 per cent discount on tuition fees for pupils up to grade five, and any new admissions.

"Pupils have just started their first term, so it's important for them to continue education," Mr Ansari said.

International Indian School in Abu Dhabi offered a 30 per cent discount on tuition fees for pupils up to grade five and any new admissions.

Muneer Chalil, principal at Darul Huda Islamic School, an Indian curriculum school in Al Ain, said more than 50 families expressed interest in applying for financial assistance to pay fees.

The school has more than 1,700 pupils and fees range from Dh5,000 in kindergarten to Dh10,300 in grade 12.

"The fund will definitely help lots of families if it is properly distributed," Mr Chalil said.

Mr Muneer Ansari, director of International Indian School in Abu Dhabi

He suggested the authorities ask schools to recommend a list of vulnerable parents, particularly those who have outstanding fees since last year and are unable to pay, so they could be prioritised.

He said some parents at the school own small grocery shops, or work as carpenters or tailors and haven taken a serious financial hit since the outbreak.

"When applying for support they need to show their salary is reduced and give bank statements. But, they may not have these. They have told me they are helpless as their shops are shut," Mr Chalil said.

"We have online classes and I have families who are unable to join as fees for the previous year are still due."

Applicants must provide proof of change in salary as a direct result of the pandemic including a letter from their employer stating their termination, unpaid leave or temporary pay cut.

A revised contract provided to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation must also be submitted and bank statements of their salary account from January to March 2020.

Self-employed parents must provide VAT registration documentation for their businesses, financial statements for the previous year, and corporate bank statements from January to March 2020.

Mr Nas Hussain, a Pakistani resident in Abu Dhabi, started a cargo business in November but is in need of support to safeguard his child's education.

Mr Hussain pays Dh42,000 in tuition fees for his daughter, who is in year eight at a British school in the emirate.

"I am going to apply for the fund so that I can get help even for one term. The school is only willing to refund transport fees for the term."

He believes the fund will be of great help to families whose situations will only worsen as global lockdowns continue.

"Ramadan will be here soon, and many people have families here, thus needing more resources at this time," he said.

Jeff Evans, from Learning Key Education Consultancy, said it was important that children not miss out on study.

“This is especially vital for middle or high-school-aged children as they do not have to be withdrawn from their schools.

“Education authorities in the UAE have worked hard with schools and parents to ensure high-quality learning continues during this situation,” he said.

"Schools can help the families most in need to apply for temporary funding, so they can complete this semester.”

Families can apply for support with education expenses, health care, food and basic needs by contacting Ma'an on 800-3088 or by visiting the website.