Survivors of a devastating Dubai fire that killed 16 people and injured nine others say they still suffer from trauma and recurring nightmares over losing their loved ones.
Eight months after the blaze engulfed their five-storey apartment building in Deira, residents who leapt from balconies to safety say the memories trigger stress and anxiety.
Many of those who lost everything in the fire are trying to rebuild their lives in Dubai, while others decided to leave the city.
Authorities said the April 15 fire was caused by a “lack of compliance” with safety standards and inadequate fire protection.
I can’t forget the day the guy shouted, ‘Jump, fire!'
Yemdzu Doris Claire,
fire survivor
Yemdzu Doris Claire, from Cameroon, lost her housemate in the blaze and has not returned to the building since the tragedy.
“I'm still traumatised. I cannot stand the smell of smoke, and some days all I can do is cry,” she said.
Ms Claire, 28, suffered burn injuries from gripping an electric cable after jumping to escape thick smoke that filled her room.
Along with five other flatmates, who heard warning shouts of “fire”, she managed to lower herself to the ground floor.
But their friend, Nicoline Abinkeng, also from Cameroon, fell to her death.
“As soon as I see smoke, I get scared even now and I feel the fire is coming,” Ms Clair told The National.
“I lost everything and I lost my friend. One day I passed near the building by accident and I just started crying.
“It is a very bad memory, I have never gone back,” she said.
'I wish that day never came'
Ms Claire lives with her brother in Dubai and has tried to rebuild her life.
She lost her job as a cashier in a restaurant and works part-time as a cleaner and as a hotel receptionist.
Other survivors, including her friends from Nigeria, Liberia and Togo, have returned to West Africa as they struggled to make ends meet after losing all their belongings in the fire.
They worked shifts in the hotel and travel industry, lived in shared accommodation with eight or 10 others and could not find new places to live.
“Most of my friends went back home,” she said.
“If the fire did not happen, maybe we would have found better jobs.”
She has also struggled to find a new home, since she is unable to make enough money.
“I can't forget the day the guy shouted, 'Jump, fire!' I wish that day never came,” she said.
“I pray God gives me an opportunity to get a job as a receptionist or cashier next year.”
Hope to return to UAE
Tchafa Louis is among those who returned home to Cameroon.
He shared an apartment with 11 others in the building, and often relives witnessing Ms Abinkeng's death.
“I could not sleep for months. She died in front of me and it was very difficult to forget that day,” he said. “I try not to think about the fire.”
Mr Louis, 24, lived in Dubai for two years and worked as a part-time cleaner.
He lost everything in the fire, which meant he struggled to pay for food and find affordable housing.
“I tried to manage but it's very hard without a proper salary,” he said.
“I stayed with a friend but had to depend on him for money to eat.”
It was then that he decided it was better to return home to Cameroon, adding that most of his friends did the same.
He hopes to find a steady job and return to the Emirates.
“I will come back to Dubai only when I get a proper job,” he said.
Fear of fire lingers
Several families have returned to their apartments in the building and they try to put the terrifying memories behind them.
However, they say that anxiety and fear still haunts them.
“I cannot unsee that day, the smoke and how it was difficult to breathe,” said an Indian father, who did not want to give his name.
“We were able to run away because we are on a lower floor but I lost two friends.
“My children still get nightmares. As soon as the rent contract is over, we will leave.
“It is not easy to stay here. There are too many sad memories from the fire.”
The sense of sorrow is felt by Salinga Gudu, who lost his younger brother Gudu Saliyakoondu, a watchman who died saving residents trapped inside the building.
“My heart is very sad,” said Mr Gudu who cares for his brother’s three young children in India’s Tamil Nadu state.
“I feel very low when I think of his children.
“I constantly think of him. He was my friend, my brother.
“There is no life without him.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
The%20specs
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Final results:
Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)
Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)
Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)
Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)
Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs: 2018 Ford F-150
Price, base / as tested: Dh173,250 / Dh178,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 395hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 12.4L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
Schedule:
Friday, January 12: Six fourball matches
Saturday, January 13: Six foursome (alternate shot) matches
Sunday, January 14: 12 singles
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
