The Emirates Red Crescent in Al Ain rescued a family of three from homelessness after they were evicted and were living in their car at the airport.
The family’s woes began when the father, who was the sole breadwinner, fell ill and died three years ago. The son, Mubarak Mohammed Hamid, who was 18 at the time, took a job to support his mother and 14-year-old sister, but lost his position two years later and has been unemployed since.
The family lived in Al Morkhaniya and paid an annual rent of Dh15,000. They were evicted when they could not pay for two consecutive months. The landlord said the house would be demolished.
When the power was disconnected, the mother, 60, and her children decided to spend the night in the airport car park where someone saw them and reported the case to the Red Crescent.
Salem Al Ameri, director of the ERC Al Ain branch, said when the office heard about the family a committee was mobilised. The family is currently staying at Al Massa hotel in Al Ain until the problem can be solved permanently.
The father came to the UAE 30 years ago. He became Muslim, found a job and married. He was paralysed five years ago.
The family never left the UAE because the father had ceased all communication with his family and homeland after he converted.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
