UAE giving year's salary to the grieving families of Al Ain crash dead

The UAE government promises a year's salary to families of the Al Ain crash victims to 'mitigate their loss'.

The funeral of Mohammed Ala Uddin, one of the Al Ain bus-crash victims. The UAE has promised his family one year's salary to help with their loss. Silvia Razgova / The National
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ABU DHABI // Grieving families of those killed in the UAE's deadliest road accident will receive a year's salary from the government, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Butti, has promised.

He said the UAE will give salaries of 12 months to each one of the families of the dead workers to "mitigate the loss of their providers while judicial authorities will determine the financial compensation which is legally due to the dead."

"MoFA followed up the sad traffic accident which took place on 4th of February in Al Ain City and involved workers from Arab and Asian countries leaving 21 dead and 24 others injured."

In a statement on state news wire WAM, he expressed heartfelt sympathy with the families of the dead and prayed to Allah Almighty to bestow mercy on them and patience on their families.

News of the additional financial compensation offered by the UAE government was welcomed by families of those who lost their sons and brothers in the February 4 road accident in Al Ain.

"The UAE government has given us hope," said Mohammed Idris Mian, who lost two sons in the accident. "They have given us hope in our hearts to live."

Mohammed Jahangir Alam, who lost his brother Mohammed Bohran Uddin, and works as a clerk in a bank earning just 5400 Taka (Dh 251) a month, and would have struggled to feed himself and his parents, said: "I am relieved to hear this news. My parents want to thank everyone who thought of us in our hard times."

Sultana Aktar, the wife of Mohammed Ala Uddin, reacted to the news saying she will be able to continue living a life of dignity.

"The family is in my hands now. I will be able to look after them in the way my husband did."

Ala Uddin leaves behind two sons, Tamim Iqbal, 6 and Tasmin Iqbal, nine months. Tasmin was born while Ala Uddin was away.

Jainal Abedin, Ala Uddin's brother said that Tamim will be able to continue his education.

"The family will be able to eat and live without worry. A burden from our shoulder has lifted," Mr Abedin said.

Nur Ahmed, the ailing grandfather of Mohammed Arif Uddin, 22, who left behind his mother said, "What can we offer in return for this generosity, we offer our prayers of thanks."