BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

VICTIMS of the Kampung Pancha Delima house fire were still waiting for the Community Development Department to provide temporary shelter when approached by The Brunei Times yesterday.

Siti Masmah Ramli, who heads one of the six families who lived in the house, said the department has yet to return their request for housing since the fire ravaged their home last week.

“We are unsure at this point if it’s because they do not have space to put us, but we have not heard anything from them since we placed a request,” she told The Brunei Times.

She said finding another house to live in was the family’s biggest priority.

The entire family (comprising 19 members) was still staying at their relatives’ house in Kg Sungai Hanching.

“We are very grateful, but we don’t know if our relatives are fine with having us all here or not – I guess we won’t ever know – but, of course, we would not want to impose on them for a long time,” Siti Masmah said.

It was previously reported that the family members have taken up the living room, as well as the corridors of their relatives’ house, since moving in.

While none of the family members were injured from the fire, their losses were around $100,000.

Vehicles were not spared as well, as the fire reportedly destroyed one car, damaged two cars, and two motorcycles.

Siti Masmah said the 19-member family (headed by 59-year-old Ramli Hj Mahali) is currently relying on one working five-seater car to get around.

“We all have to take turns using the car, at the moment.

“It might get a bit difficult when school starts for the kids in a few days, but the plan will most probably be to send father (Ramli) to work first in the mornings, before sending the children to school,” she said.

As for new school supplies, Siti said Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) had provided the family with coupons for school books and school uniforms.

The family also previously received $5,700 as financial assistance from YSHHB.

The Brunei Times