Jobless Bahraini widower lived without electricity, fighting poverty and hot summer

Manama : A jobless Bahraini widower has been living without electricity for three months now as he’s unable to pay his BD500 bill. Ismail Ibrahim, 50, lost his wife in a tragic fire accident that occurred in Salmabad Housing Project back in 2015. In May this year, the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) cut the power from Mr Ibrahim’s flat, as the jobless man couldn’t pay his outstanding bills. 

Tragedy

While speaking to Tribune on Monday, Mr Ibrahim recalled the horrific incident which took place on July 4, 2015, during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“It happened on a Saturday afternoon while I was at my father’s house in Malkiya. A neighbour called me and asked me to come home. When I reached there, I saw traces of the water used by the firetrucks, but it didn’t occur to me that a fire broke out in my apartment. “My neighbour then told me what happened and said my wife and daughter suffered burn injuries and were taken to the hospital by ambulance. I was shocked when I saw her lying motionless on the Intensive Care Unit bed. 

Recognising her was difficult as she suffered 90 per cent burns. My daughter was also kept under observation as she suffocated by thick smoke. It was a horrible day that I could never forget,” Mr Ibrahim narrated. Mr Ibrahim’s wife succumbed to her burn injuries and was announced dead at Salmaniya Medical Complex a few hours following the mishap. Since that day, the man’s life turned upside-down as he was traumatised by the loss of his wife, he lost his job and his only daughter refused to return to the house where she saw her mother dead and preferred to live with maternal grandparents and uncles .

Agony

Mr Ibrahim worked for several companies in the private sector as a driver and a security guard during the past three years. The man said he received BD200-300 as a salary, which was barely enough to support him and his 17-year-old daughter. He also added that he was sacked from his last position as a warehouse guard at a garments company in Hidd in April and a few days later, the EWA would cut power from his apartment.

“Housing Ministry revamped the apartment and I moved back after spending a couple of months at my father’s house. The fire destroyed most of the furniture and I have sold whatever was left to survive. “On May 1, the EWA disconnected power as I couldn’t pay the BD500 outstanding bill. I tried explaining my condition to them, but they told me their decision was final and that I need to pay at least one third of the amount. 

“I felt ashamed to ask people for money, so I decided to quietly stay in the apartment all by myself,” the man said. Mr Ibrahim lived this year’s Ramadan enduring the summer heat without electricity. He merely survived on relatives’ and neighbours’ donations. This continued until two weeks ago, when he approached a social worker for assistance.