An Emirati citizen has reportedly offered scores of homeless expats from Ghana a place to stay, while they wait for their papers to be sorted and flights home arranged.
Over 200 Ghanaians have been forced to sleep in a park in Satwa for more than a month after being rendered homeless due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The unnamed Emirati has reportedly offered 41 of them temporary accommodation in an air conditioned tent in Jebel Ali.
His generous gesture comes on the heels of others in the UAE community who came together to support the expats during their plight, including a local food stylist who had been cooking for them and a Facebook volunteer group that had been helping out with supplying the expats with essentials.
I CAN’T WAIT TO ANNOUNCE THIS! The homeless #Ghanaians that I posted about earlier have all found a place to stay, thanks to a generous Emirati (still trying to find out his name) who’s offered them a place in Jebel Ali. pic.twitter.com/AKfeZwxGU8
— David Tusing (@DavidTusing) June 1, 2020
One of the expats, Moses, confirmed there were 41 of them who were currently relocated to the accommodation in Jebel Ali, and that they were “expecting more” of their compatriots soon.
“We never expected, never thought that we’d receive assistance in this way. We have been living entirely on the mercy of other people,” he said.
The group, which includes pregnant women, has been camping outside the Consulate of Ghana seeking help to return home. In the meanwhile, the park became home.
I CAN’T WAIT TO ANNOUNCE THIS! The homeless #Ghanaians that I posted about earlier have all found a place to stay, thanks to a generous Emirati (still trying to find out his name) who’s offered them a place in Jebel Ali. pic.twitter.com/AKfeZwxGU8
— David Tusing (@DavidTusing) June 1, 2020
“It was where we could meet our brothers and sisters, share jokes, speak our own dialect. When you see your own brothers, it gives you some courage and strength – better than walking the streets on your own,” said Moses.
“Our main requirement now is how do we go back to Ghana. This is our main concern. We do not have the money to go back.”
Moses adds that he’s incredibly grateful for the support the community has shown till now. “We have been shown a level of humanitarianism more than we expected. We are very thankful.”
The expat explained that, at present, they would appreciate food from their home country, as well as “essentials for the needs of the women” among them.
A representative for Dubai-based NGO Valley of Love said the organisation is currently exploring both immediate and long-term solutions to assist the Ghanaians.
“Currently, there are no flights available for Ghana,” said Joseph Bobby, vice president of the organisation, who added that while Emirates has flights tentatively scheduled for July, they are only “speculative” at the moment.
Joseph, who visited the Ghanaians at their new temporary shelter, lauded the mystery gentleman who arranged the accommodation, and confirmed that it was air-conditioned with wash facilities.
The expats are being provided with food and groceries twice a day too. “We have a couple of volunteers going over with hot food and water today, as those were the requests we received today,” he said.
