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Naif Souq shopkeepers seek immediate help

DUBAI — Traders who lost their shops and in some cases lifetime earnings in the recent Naif Souq fire tragedy are demanding an immediate relief package from the authorities concerned.

Most of the affected shopkeepers said they are left with very little or no money and need immediate financial assistance so that they could survive until the temporary souq comes up.

The huge fire on April 3 had destroyed 184 of the 190 shops in the souq, causing heavy losses for the traders. The Dubai Municipality had confirmed that more than 90 per cent of the shops were reduced to ashes.

Since the fire, the civic body has announced that it would immediately build a temporary souq near the old one in two months and that a totally new and improved new souq would be built in the same place in the next eight months.

The officials have promised that all shopkeepers, who had suffered losses, would be compensated. The other organisations like the Red Crescent have also promised help to the victims.

Safaas Hussain, who was running shop No. 335 selling cosmetics and perfumes, said, 'The assurances are good and we have full faith in the government. But we are in desperate need of immediate assistance. The fire consumed goods worth Dh300,000 and Dh70,000 in cash. Right now, we don't have a single penny left with us. We need to pay rents of the accommodation and have our meals. We don't have money even for this.'

The shopkeepers said they have not received any official notice from the municipality on the process for getting the compensation till now.

'We don't know whom to approach and what to do. Our sponsor has told us that he would be approaching the civic body for the compensation. But what do we do now? The DM has promised that they would build a temporary souq in two months. What we need at the moment is some financial help. We are left with no money,' said Ahmed, who owned a garment store.

Several other shopkeepers also said the same thing and requested immediate financial aid.

When contacted, the municipality officials said the matter would be taken up with the Director-General's office immediately.