An overwhelming number of big-hearted Bahrainis and expatriates have stepped forward to offer their help in shelters temporarily set up to host people evacuated from under fire areas of Juffair, Hoora and Gudaibiya.
Shelters set up in public schools continued to operate for the third day yesterday, providing evacuees with a roof over their head, warm meals and a place to sleep away from sites struck by Iranian missiles, until the situation calms down.
A number of volunteers, who were acting as staff members in one shelter, told the GDN that requests to join and extend a helping hand have been pouring in – with more than 200 volunteer names on the list in reserve for that shelter alone.
A young Bahraini, who fled Juffair on February 28, both volunteers and stays at the shelter in Ghazi Al Gosaibi Girls Secondary School in Hamad Town. “It feels good to help others ... and it does feel a lot safer here,” 21-year-old Yousif Ahmed told the GDN. “When the strikes happened, I wasn’t scared, but I was worried for my family.
“We were brought here by bus and they transferred my mum here from another school,” he said, adding that nine of his family members were staying at the shelter, including his two sisters.
Mr Ahmed stated that he worked as a waiter at a restaurant in Juffair but had not been able to return to work as the conflict continues. Instead, he has been spending his time assisting at the shelter.
Three other young Bahrainis – Khaled Husain, Khaled Hameed and Waleed Khaled – have been working the 7am to 2pm shift at the school, alongside 20 others. They said it was their third day volunteering.
They explained that their responsibilities include organisation, logistical support, cleaning and making sure evacuees have what they need – like going on a pharmacy run for an evacuee who does not have their own method of transportation.
They said that on the previous day, there were 500 people at the school, although the total headcount for Tuesday had still to be finalised.
Evacuees were also seen leaving the shelters in taxis or friends’ cars, having found more stable living arrangements with friends, acquaintances and community groups.
One such evacuee was Ava, a Filipina salon employee who was living in Hoora when Era Tower was struck, and was evacuated due to her flat’s proximity to the action. She was leaving with her pillow, blanket and suitcase to live with a compatriot for the time being.
The 50-year-old expat described the shelter as ‘nice and safe’ and added that she would not mind if an order to return home was issued by the Filipino authorities. A kind middle-aged man, who came to the school to ask if he could volunteer, was turned away because there were enough people helping and also in reserve.
Meanwhile, at Wadi Al Sail Primary and Intermediate Boys School in Riffa, a shipment of paper towels, toilet paper and cleaning supplies was brought in by public cleaners.
Although there were less evacuees at this school – around 100 – it was still fully equipped and made habitable and welcoming as a temporary refuge.
On the first day of the attack, displaced residents from Juffair were first moved to Ahmed Al Omran Secondary Boys School in Hoora, but after the towers were struck had to be once again relocated to more secure areas in the country such as Hamad Town, Riffa and Budaiya. Shaikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Primary and Intermediate School in Budaiya was also repurposed as a shelter. They are being run by the governorates in which they are located, in collaboration with the Interior Ministry.
Since all educational institutions in the country switched to remote learning, the campus’s repurposing as a place for people to stay has not disrupted learning for students.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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