MORE Bahraini families whose homes were damaged in Sitra during recent Iranian attacks on the kingdom have returned to their properties following extensive repairs being carried out.
The restoration work took place under a government compensation programme launched on the directives of His Majesty King Hamad and the orders of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
A home following the Iranian attacks and after renovation
The Works Ministry, in co-ordination with the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry yesterday handed over the latest batch of restored properties after completing all engineering and technical repairs in line with an approved implementation plan.
The latest handovers form part of the government’s wider programme to compensate citizens affected by the attacks, which caused damage to a number of buildings and vehicles earlier this year.
Specialised engineering teams carried out comprehensive structural assessments before beginning repair work to ensure every property met the highest standards of quality and safety before residents returned.
The restoration programme included repairing structural damage, completing internal and external finishing works, restoring damaged utility services and rehabilitating affected facilities based on detailed technical evaluations conducted by ministry engineers.
A home’s interior after being fixed
Officials added that homes were only handed back after all engineering requirements had been fully met, ensuring the properties were restored to a safe and fully operational condition.
The ministry’s officials stressed that work was continuing on the remaining damaged homes in accordance with an approved timetable and in close co-ordination with all relevant authorities to ‘ensure rapid completion without compromising quality’.
They also reaffirmed commitment to implementing the directives aimed at providing full support and assistance to citizens affected by the unprovoked attacks while accelerating the rehabilitation programme.
Residents receiving their restored homes expressed deep appreciation to His Majesty for his directives and to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for ordering immediate action.
Homeowners also praised the swift response of government agencies, saying the speed with which inspections, assessments and repair works were completed had enabled them to return to normal life much sooner than expected.
The field team with residents during handover
They said government officials maintained close contact with affected families throughout the process, from the initial damage assessment and documentation through to the completion of repairs and final handover.
Residents added that the comprehensive response reflected the leadership’s commitment to safeguarding citizens and demonstrated the close co-operation between government entities in restoring damaged neighbourhoods and reassuring affected families.
Relieved Hussain Al Sitri, head of a family of 10, is set to move back home in the next few days and expressed his happiness. “I received a call to start packing up belongings in our temporary home in Salman Town as we are in the next batch of returnees,” he said. “I miss our home and I will be so happy when we are all back there together after a tough period.”
Abdulameer Fateel, 61, was also elated to get a similar call and will be returning to Sitra with his wife. He said: “I’ve been feeling homesick for a while now. We will be back in our home in record time thanks to the leadership showing us love, care and compassion.”
The rolling handovers represent another milestone in Bahrain’s continuing recovery programme following the attacks and follows an earlier handover of homes damaged in the Hidd Housing Town by the same team from both ministries.
Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani, during a media briefing on the sidelines of an emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council earlier this month, said that since February 28, Bahrain has been subjected to hundreds of missile and drone attacks targeting residential neighbourhoods and civilian infrastructure. The attacks have claimed three lives and injured hundreds of civilians, including women and children.
He said that Bahrain had been subjected to 808 attacks from 203 ballistic missiles and 605 drones, while 465 individuals were injured.
Many more would have suffered had it not been for the bravery of defence forces.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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