Families must ensure child safety to avoid balcony falls: Sharjah social services chief

Afaf Al Mirri, the director of Sharjah Social Services department, says that those found at fault for child deaths should be punished.

SHARJAH // Families need to ensure their homes are safe or face prosecution if a child falls from a residential tower, Sharjah’s social services chief said on Tuesday.

Afaf Al Mirri, the director of Sharjah Social Services department, spoke out after a series of incidents where children fell from high-rises were reported, including two child deaths last week.

“We have noticed lately several incidents of neglect where children have fallen from balconies and windows in the emirate, as well as drowning cases,” said Ms Al Mirri.

“The family is responsible for protecting their children from these incidents, and they should be the first to be questioned for the reasons that caused these deaths.”

She said families should always keep safety in mind and secure their homes to protect their children.

“They should install locks on windows and iron bars on balconies to protect them from falling - they should make sure the windows are securely locked as well,” said Ms Al Mirri.

So far this year, four children have fallen to their death from Sharjah high-rises, while another child was left paralysed from a fall.

Last Tuesday, a four-year-old Sudanese girl died after falling from a tower in Al Majaz.

Sharjah Police said the girl had been left alone in her flat and she climbed on to a chair close to the window and fell to her death.

And last Sunday a two-and-half year old Asian girl died on impact after falling from a window of a seventh-floor apartment in Al Qasimya.

Police said the mother left the child sleeping alone in the apartment and went to pick up her son from school.

“The second entity to question is the departments and authorities in charge of putting the safety standards and regulations in residential buildings,” added Ms Al Mirri.

Sharjah Municipality requires windows and balconies to be at least 120cm from the floor, as opposed to the one-metre international standard.

Several awareness campaigns have been launched by the municipality and police in Sharjah to curb such incidents.

“We need to raise the awareness of families regarding these incidents, and ways to increase the safety measures to prevent them,” added the social services director.

“Families found responsible for these accidents and others, like drowning incidents, should be subject to legal action, especially after the enactment of Wadeema’s law [the recently approved Children’s Rights Law].”