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Grenfell Tower: Residents confront minister over issues | Grenfell Tower: Residents confront minister over issues |
(35 minutes later) | |
Residents affected by the Grenfell Tower fire have vented their frustration at what they say is a lack of progress in dealing with problems. | |
They confronted housing minister Alok Sharma MP on why the homeless are not yet rehoused, in tense exchanges on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. | |
The minister told them people would be offered a suitable place to live within three weeks of the fire. | |
Later, the Prime Minister confirmed 120 tower blocks had now failed fire tests. | |
During the programme, residents and survivors set out their problems in the wake of the 14 June inferno. | |
"I am not moving my child from here, to here, to here, to here - I want permanent accommodation," Oluwaseun Talabi, who escaped the fire with his wife and young daughter, told Mr Sharma. | |
"I am not going to take any house you give me, it has to be suitable. | |
"I was happy in my house. I work hard. I want permanent accommodation," | |
He and his family have been living in a hotel room after they "lost everything". | |
Mahad Egal, who escaped the fourth floor of Grenfell Tower during the fire in the early hours of 14 June, described how he had been offered alternative accommodation in a high rise block. He has refused it. | Mahad Egal, who escaped the fourth floor of Grenfell Tower during the fire in the early hours of 14 June, described how he had been offered alternative accommodation in a high rise block. He has refused it. |
"My first priority is to put suitable accommodation over my children and my wife," he said. | "My first priority is to put suitable accommodation over my children and my wife," he said. |
"These people have the right to get back their dignity. Where is the dignity?" asked survivor Sid-Ali Atmani. "I don't want Theresa (May) to go to the TV, I want her to come (here)." | |
Haunted by victims | Haunted by victims |
The group described the practical problems they have faced in being rehoused; trying to replace burned documents; accessing funding; being unable to return to work without a permanent base; and their dealings with the authorities. | The group described the practical problems they have faced in being rehoused; trying to replace burned documents; accessing funding; being unable to return to work without a permanent base; and their dealings with the authorities. |
They also spoke about the psychological impacts. | They also spoke about the psychological impacts. |
Many said they had not been able to sleep since the disaster, or were haunted by images of their escape and their friends, family and neighbours who perished. | Many said they had not been able to sleep since the disaster, or were haunted by images of their escape and their friends, family and neighbours who perished. |
Omar Alhajali, whose brother Mohammed died in the blaze, said: "When I see (his image), I remember everything. Not only now but every night... I can't sleep." | Omar Alhajali, whose brother Mohammed died in the blaze, said: "When I see (his image), I remember everything. Not only now but every night... I can't sleep." |
The group were hugely critical of the local council and the government's emergency response. | The group were hugely critical of the local council and the government's emergency response. |
Kensington and Chelsea council provided no spokesperson for the programme's debate and they were empty-chaired. | |
Mr Sharma, the government's housing minister, arrived to answer their questions part-way through the show. | |
Survivors have themselves begun to compile a list of the victims as the current official number of people who died stands at 79, but it is expected to rise. | Survivors have themselves begun to compile a list of the victims as the current official number of people who died stands at 79, but it is expected to rise. |
They feel it will rise much further and are concerned the number is being downplayed. | They feel it will rise much further and are concerned the number is being downplayed. |
Other residents have also voiced concerns - nearby blocks of flats and houses still lack hot water. | |
Simone Willis, a nurse who helped victims on the night, addressed a panel of politicians on the programme including the local MP Emma Dent Coad and London Assembly member Tony Devenish, saying: "When you're coming to these kinds of scenarios asking, 'what is needed?', think! | Simone Willis, a nurse who helped victims on the night, addressed a panel of politicians on the programme including the local MP Emma Dent Coad and London Assembly member Tony Devenish, saying: "When you're coming to these kinds of scenarios asking, 'what is needed?', think! |
"You have a family, a mother, daughter, what would you need? | "You have a family, a mother, daughter, what would you need? |
"This is not going to take a few shows, a few meetings, this is years of work." | "This is not going to take a few shows, a few meetings, this is years of work." |
Mr Sharma said the government guaranteed "people who have had their homes destroyed will be offered suitable accommodation within three weeks". | |
That timeframe leaves one week remaining. He initially said that would be "accommodation" and later said "temporary accommodation". | That timeframe leaves one week remaining. He initially said that would be "accommodation" and later said "temporary accommodation". |
Everybody would have "good quality accommodation" he said, inviting them all to tell him their issues. | Everybody would have "good quality accommodation" he said, inviting them all to tell him their issues. |
During the programme, residents raised the questions about the disaster they want to see answered by an inquiry. | During the programme, residents raised the questions about the disaster they want to see answered by an inquiry. |
They included: | They included: |
Afterwards, Mr Sharma said he was going straight to the Westway emergency relief centre to hold a surgery with survivors. | Afterwards, Mr Sharma said he was going straight to the Westway emergency relief centre to hold a surgery with survivors. |
100% failure | |
At Prime Minister's Questions, Theresa May updated MPs on progress in dealing with the aftermath of the disaster. | |
She told MPs cladding on blocks across 37 local authority areas in England had failed tests for combustibility. | |
Given the "100% failure rate" she said local authorities had been told to get on with fire checks and any further necessary action. | |
She said 282 good quality temporary accommodation units had been identified, 132 families have had their needs assessed and 65 offers of accommodation had been made so far. | |
She said the lord chief justice would recommend a judge to head the public inquiry soon. | |
As of Wednesday morning, £1.25m had been paid to those affected and a further £1m would go to local charities and supporting groups, she said. |