The accommodation costs of more than 200 people who were left temporarily homeless by a gas explosion in Abu Dhabi will be covered by Emirates Red Crescent.
Two people from the Philippines died and others were injured as a result of the blast, which was caused by a gas leak at a fast food restaurant on Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Road in the emirate on Monday.
The humanitarian organisation will provide support for 208 people living in the building who had to be relocated.
ERC said volunteers from its Abu Dhabi centre were involved in the evacuation of the building and transferring residents to hotels in the city.
The group is covering expenses associated with their stay under a directive by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, who is also its chairman.
The explosion, which was caused by a misalignment in the gas container fittings after the residential building was refuelled, occurred at about 10.15am.
It destroyed a KFC restaurant, a neighbouring Hardee's outlet and other shops nearby.
The typically busy street, also known as Airport Road, was closed until 6.30pm while clean-up operations were under way.
Civil Defence asked around the area for anyone who was injured so they could be taken to hospital.
The explosion could be heard at least a kilometre away and sent debris flying across one of Abu Dhabi's busiest roads.
A video showed the devastating aftermath of the blast.
It showed cars parked nearby Hardee's and KFC on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Road having been pushed by the force of the blast, which also blew out the concrete walls of the fast food chains.
The windows of the residential flats on the two floors directly above the restaurants were shattered as the sound of many sirens rang out.
Ritchelle Otrillo, 40, a saleswoman who works at a haircare shop two buildings from the accident site, said she heard a loud bang at around 10am.
"I went out to see what happened, and I saw people covered in blood
"I had four customers, and one customer said she had just left with her kids from KFC five minutes before, and she was almost crying. She was very lucky, she said God saved her."
On Tuesday, the Philippines embassy in the UAE confirmed "with deep sadness" that the two who died were its citizens.
It said ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana contacted the families of the two people to express condolences and assure them that they would be given "all necessary assistance".
The embassy is working with local authorities to track down Filipinos who were taken to a hospital to be treated for minor and moderate injuries.
It said it would offer them support.
