WITH the mercury soaring in Bahrain, volunteers have stepped up their efforts to help outdoor workers beat the heat by offering them cool drinks, and fruits to boost their energy.
According to the met office yesterday, it is going to be hot and humid over the next five days with maximum temperatures ranging from 47C to 44C and maximum humidity between 85 per cent and 90pc.
The Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF), Bahrain Kerala Social Forum (BKSF) and the Indian Ladies Association (ILA) are among the organisations in the forefront of relief efforts, distributing water, juice, fruits and snacks mainly among workers at construction sites.
Based on a 2007 law, Bahrain bans work on outdoor sites between noon and 4pm from July 1 to August 31, to prevent heat-related illnesses among labourers during the scorching summer.
Labour and Social Development Ministry Labour Affairs assistant under-secretary Ahmed Al Hayki has welcomed the regular, annual initiatives by the civil societies.
“It is heartwarming to see the community rallying to support fellow human beings and this is the identity of Bahrain,” he told the GDN.
“We have witnessed such great gestures every year and during the pandemic we saw the efforts were overwhelming.
“Without any discrimination volunteers are giving away aid which is a great support to the government.”
Mr Al Hayki added that, in collaboration with the ICRF, the ministry was organising online workshops and seminars to create awareness amongst workers on the summer work ban, and matters related to heat and the pandemic.
The ICRF has so far distributed water and fruits to almost 400 workers under its annual Thirst Quenchers programme.
Mr Thirunilath
“We started this six years ago,” said the programme convener Sudheer Thirunilath.
“Those days the numbers were high but this has come down due to the pandemic.”
The team aims to continue its weekly event for the next eight to 10 weeks at various worksites.
Meanwhile, the BKSF, in association with the Bahrain Malayalee Business Forum (BMBF), is also marking the seventh year of its Help and Drink initiative.
Mr Ambalayi
“Since July 1, we distributed water, juice, fruit and vegetables to almost 400 workers,” said BMBF founder-secretary Basheer Ambalayi.
“Vegetables including carrots and cucumbers are also in the bags that we give away along with snack packets including sandwiches and samosas.”
He added that earlier it was easy to spot worksites with labourers, but that’s not the case now. Due to the pandemic there are fewer worksites and fewer workers.
The ILA kicked off its ‘Beat the Heat’ campaign last week by distributing snack boxes with juice, orange, vada-pav (an Indian sandwich), nuts, water and ice cream to around 80 workers at the King Hamad University Hospital construction site.
Ms Ranga
“The campaign runs for two months; our next drive will be on July 29,” said ILA president Nisha Ranga.
“We aim to reach out to workers at construction sites at different locations in Bahrain.”
Bangladesh Society has also been actively distributing food and aid to needy people in Bahrain.
“We distribute water and fruits, while also spreading awareness about precautions to be taken to prevent diseases and heatstroke,” said society president Asif Ahammed.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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