Fujairah mother’s grievance; will live on in their memories

Shocking the village in Fujairah with the death of 7 young children in the wee hours of 22nd January; all that is left from the family is the mother.

In response to a call from the Ras Al Khaimah Sports and Cultural Club, mothers, grandmothers and educators have offered condolences to the distressed mother who lost her seven kids in a recent fire at Rol Didana area.

All seven children of Salima Al Saridi were suffocated to death after the room the kids were sleeping in caught fire and was filled with heavy smoke in Fujairah.

The agonized mother, in her thirties, said she could do nothing but accept her fate and surrender to her destiny. “To Allah, we belong, and to Him is our return,” she said. “I shall live on their memories, and recall their words in which they were bidding her farewell.”

They used to tell me that they wish to join their late father who died because of a serious chronic disease five years ago, she added. The twins I gave birth to one month after their father’s death were talking about their father on their last day just hours before their sorrowful demise, she said.

READ ALSO: 7 children suffocate in village fire, a mother’s trauma

“They grew up fast,” she said. “I have been everything for them; their father, mother, and friend.”

One of Al Saridi’s sisters was saying that her story and struggling in life deserves to be narrated. “This is because of the so many hardships and challenges I have been through on my own.

“The only one who was supporting and comforting me were my kids. Though I am trying to be patient, my mother does not stop crying over their loss and that is what I cannot take and tears my heart.”

Al Saridi thanked the prudent leadership for their support and attempt to comfort her and ease her suffering. “On top of these are the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to implement fire safety procedures and smoke detectors so that such tragic incidents do not take place.”

READ ALSO: What to do in case of a fire accident occurs in your place

Hesa Said, deputy president of the RAK Sports and Cultural Club, said their call to offer condolences to the mother was the least thing they can do. “This visit to the mother has had a significant positive impact on her. The members of the club spare no effort to enhance the social relationships among the members of the society.”

Cause of the accident

On Tuesday, police confirmed to an international news agency that faulty living room lights were the cause of the deadly fire.

Colonel Saif Rashid Al Zahmi, director of Dibba Fujairah Police, told the agency that the police forensic laboratory investigated the cause of the fire that started in the living room and spread to other areas of the house.

“Lights were the cause of the fire,” he said.

The house was handed over to the family on Tuesday, Col Al Zahmi said.

Major-General Mohammad Ganem Al Kaabi, Commander-in-Chief of Fujairah Police, said they received the emergency call all too late, making it difficult to save the children despite arriving on the scene in record time.

Maj-Gen Al Kaabi said the police received a call at 5.40am reporting the fire and saying that the children were trapped inside.

Smoke quickly engulfed the house which prevented the mother as well as neighbors from rescuing the children.

Maj-Gen Al Kaabi urged residents to install smoke detectors to avoid such tragic incidents.