Hundreds of residents who lost their homes when a fire tore through Abbco Tower in Sharjah have been temporarily placed in nearby hotels.
The building’s management company, Bonyan, paid for more than 200 rooms in hotels including Al Salam Grand, Sharjah Palace and Royal Grand as tenants came to the terms with the devastating effects of Tuesday night’s blaze.
A Bonyan representative told The National he had been inundated with calls from residents who were desperate for information after their homes were destroyed.
He said investigations into the cause of the fire could be lengthy, meaning residents could have to wait up to six months for compensation.
“People must be compensated for everything they have lost,” said Bonyan’s Nidal Owaidat.
“The fire started from apartment 103 and what I know is that authorities are questioning its owners to identify the reason for the fire.
”It is important to look at how people will manage in the meantime.”
He said Emirates Red Crescent has donated meals to the affected tenants.
Mr Owaidat said insurance company representatives wanted to assess the damage at the property on Thursday afternoon but were denied access by civil defence, who said the building was not yet safe to enter.
Residents of more than 300 flats rushed out of the 48-storey building on Tuesday night as flames engulfed the tower.
Tenants have been left coming to terms with the emotional and physical consequences of the ordeal.
“Panic and fear paralysed me. I was stuck in a lift trying to escape and those minutes felt like a lifetime,” said Moroccan Nozha Alowaini, 25, recalling the night.
“When the lift opened I was only on the 22nd floor and had to take the stairs for the rest of the way to get out.
“I can barely move my legs now.”
Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was forced to race down the stairs from the 10th floor, despite being heavily pregnant.
“I am scared because I have no money to seek medical help,” she said.
Egyptian Alaa Zahir has been staying in a hotel room with his wife and four children, aged between three and 11, since the fire.
“It’s not easy, I went to the police to ask when we can check our flats but they don’t know,” he said.
“I couldn’t even check on my car in the car park in the same building.”
Not being able to get into their properties has meant many residents have been stuck wearing the same clothes for three days now.
“The Philippines Consulate gave us financial aid and food to help us through this difficult time,” said Filipino Von Segaya, 38, who had been living with his father and sisters on the ninth floor of Abbco Tower.
“Not everybody has been as lucky as us so we’re trying to share as much as we can with the others.
“We’re finding out what hotel rooms they are staying in and bringing down food to give them.”
The building’s aluminium cladding was blamed for the fire spreading so quickly.
The use of aluminium composite panel cladding was banned in UAE when the country's Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice was updated in 2016.
However, the building was constructed before the ban came into place.
Andy Dean, head of facades at engineering firm WSP's Middle East office, said the region was more than aware of the problems arising from cladding.
“There have been thousands of safety assessments on properties in the UAE but the number of buildings that have actually replaced the cladding would be in the tens at most,” he said.
“Part of the problem is the cost. Building owners often say they would love to do it but can’t afford to.
“These buildings are regarded as assets to make money and many people have the attitude that if it’s not a legal requirement they won’t spend the money.”
