Monday evening: JLT Tamweel tower residents still waiting outside

On Monday evening, residents of Tamweel Tower in Jumeirah Lakes Towers were still waiting outside under the burnt-out building, hoping for a chance to enter their apartments

Though some residents were permitted to enter the building on Sunday afternoon, when Civil Defense was in charge of the operations, little was said or done to raise the residents' hopes of entering their homes any time soon.

At 1pm on Monday, there was an announcement that entrance will be permitted into apartment on floors 1-20. It was good news for some, while for others their day-long wait was in vain.

"Right now entrance is not allowed," repeats a frustrated CID officer. He explained to the crowd that currently repair work is being done on the elevator. Cars can be moved from the underground garage now. Asked if entrance will be permitted today, he said that he cannot tell.

It does not hold back the residents from waiting. "I cannot go to work right now. I am not in the right frame of mind. I first want to have my stuff," says a resident whose apartment is on the 26th floor.

He has been in front of the building since 8.30 this morning and spent the whole day yesterday there.

"We cannot move on without knowing what is left of our stuff. I cannot rent a place without my paper work," says a resident of the 24th floor on the badly affected side of the building.

Although frustration is there, solidarity is too. Sweets are going around in abundance and a group of 15 women from the neighbouring Seef Towers have set up a stall providing the residents with drinks and sweets.

"We are here to help our neighbours as much as we can," says a smiling woman, referring to her and the others as the Seef Ladies.

Graham, who has a flat on 21st floor, told this website that he has not been allowed to go into the building as yet. He has been waiting since 9.30am yesterday and has not slept for the past 36 hours. And today also he’s been waiting since 10am but there has been no word from the management of the building.

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