More than 218 poor and destitute families, west of Hafr Al-Batin international road network, are struggling to keep warm this winter because their corrugated iron shacks turn into freezers in the current sub-zero temperatures. Ramadan, the main breadwinner of a family of 10, said he lives with his family in a shack measuring around three square meters and only has a gas heater to keep his family warm in the extreme cold weather. “My wife and kids sit in front of the gas heater all night until their legs are roasted,” he told Al-Youm Arabic newspaper. “No one on earth can tolerate living in a cold shack with nothing but blankets. I have to stay awake all night because if this kind of heater is not used properly, it has the potential to be quite deadly.” Malaha Laiqe, a 60-year-old father of 12 children, said he has been living with his family in a shack of corrugated iron for more than 20 years. “We have adapted to all kinds of weather, hot and cold, but my small kids can't tolerate the cold winter weather, so I bought a small tent made of wool which I erect every winter near the shack. I usually heat up the tent with firewood which costs me most of my savings.” Farhan Muhammad complained that many merchants raise the price of firewood in the winter. This has forced him and his children to collect timber at building dump sites. “We light it during the extreme cold nights to keep ourselves warm.” Gharib Al-Shemeri, who is also a shack dweller, said his family is living in miserable conditions, especially when the temperature drops below zero. “I applied several times to Al-Bir charity to include me as a beneficiary. Their help would definitely relieve our suffering. I have been suffering like this for years and am still waiting for a response from the charity.” Tamatheel Ibrahim, an elderly woman, lives with her two daughters in one of these corrugated iron shacks. She said they have no one to support them. When night falls she embraces her two daughters to try to keep them warm. “But I know that my old body will never warm them. We have to use rags to fight the freezing cold.” Awaid Saqir Al-Enezi, Assistant Director General of Al-Bir Philanthropic Society, said the charity supports 168 families. He said support is only offered to those who meet the charity's criteria. Beneficiaries are paid SR500 a month and given blankets and other items needed for winter.
