Malkiya fire mishap: Expats given aid

Manama: Around 64 homeless expat labourers, who lost their residence and personal belongings in a devastating fire that occurred in Malkiya last week, received emergency aid from a local charity organisation.

Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) said in a press statement yesterday that it had coordinated with a local restaurant to provide two meals to the distressed workers for an entire week, while the society’s team worked on finding a safe shelter for them.

It also mentioned that most of the labourers were Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. It also confirmed that no one was injured as all workers were at their work when the fire broke out. However, personal belongings and documents of the workers were destroyed in the blaze.

MWPS Chairperson Marietta Dias said, “This is the third fire incident to occur at a labour camp in less than one month. We wonder if the landlords are bearing their responsibilities of ensuring the safety of the buildings that they lease to workers.” 

“It’s important to note that labourers’ wages should be sufficient, so they would be able to pay the rent and not forced to live in dilapidated buildings. Such buildings are usually infested with residents and pose threats to their safety.” “Stricter procedures, such as periodic inspection, must be imposed on labourers’ camps.” 

She called for raising the wages of labourers to avoid overcrowding at labourers’ accommodations.“Ensuring that safety standards are applied at their homes would benefit them and landlords alike. Labourers coming from different countries are just like us. They deserve decent living standards,” she added.

The blaze was reported on Saturday at a labour camp in Malkiya, near Roundabout 6 in Hamad Town. No casualties were reported though the entire camp was gutted.