RAK family seeks help to rebuild decades-old house

Ras Al Khaimah - The family says they had a miraculous escape from death after a big part of the concrete ceiling of the decades-old house

A 16-member Emirati family in the emirate is seeking help to rebuild their dilapidated house.
The family says they had a miraculous escape from death after a big part of the concrete ceiling of the decades-old house at the Filya area fell down late on Monday.
"Luckily, there was no one in the room when the ceiling collapsed," said 55-year-old Mariam Rashid, known as Umm Fahem.
All family members were sleeping in other rooms when the room ceiling fell down, she added.
"Most of the children frequently enter this room most of the daytime as it contains a fridge and the family iron the clothes there as well." Fortunately, none was hurt, Umm Fahem said.
"The fridge, which was close to the wall, was not damaged as well." Umm Fahem added that she has been staying in the old house which was built in the early eighties at the Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum locality, Filya area.
I got a grant from the Shaikh Zayed Housing programme to build a new house, but the contractor escaped before completing the house. "I still need Dh160,000 to build the remaining part of the house. My husband, who draws a monthly pension of Dh11,000, can't afford to build the house."
Two of Umm Fahem's married sons are staying with her in the same old house.
"One of them has six children and the other has two sons and a pregnant wife, however, they can't afford buying separate houses."
Four other unmarried children of Umm Fahem, two daughters and two sons, are also staying with her in the same old house.
My married children are staying in separate rooms generously built with the help of Shaikh Hana bint Juma Al Majid, the wife of His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
"We all stay in the three-room house including the third where the ceiling collapsed."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ras Al Khaimah