18 families without lift in Sharjah building

Eighteen Arab and Asian families, including children and old persons, have to climb the stairs in a nine-floor building in Sharjah as its lift has been out of order for nearly two weeks, according to a local newspaper.

The Arabic language daily 'Al Ittihad' said the residents of the building in the Clock Roundabout in the northern city have reported the problem to the civil defence, which in turn reported it to the Sharjah Municipality.

It said the lift stopped at the start of February but was restored two weeks later before it was damaged again in mid-February.

“The lift is still out of order and the residents, including children and old persons, have to climb up the stairs in a daily agony,” the paper said.

“They say that they pay rent on time but the building always has problems, including a persistent power and water failure last summer.”

The paper said the building was under court receivership last year but gave no reasons. It said the landlords have made no move to repair the lift in the past two weeks.