Following the tragic burnout in Mangaf that resulted in the death of 49 residents, Kuwait Municipality has issued a stern warning against storing leftover furniture, rubble, or any other materials in front of real estate apartments, staircases, and basements. Property owners who violate this will face penalties and financial fines per Municipal law. Inspections across various districts in Kuwait have compelled residents to remove their belongings, with no prior notice given for visits.
As building owners order residents to clear out their properties, building guards rapidly dispose of items, resulting in piles of garbage littering the streets. Kuwait Times interviewed building guards, residents, and cleaning workers to understand the impact of these measures. Shihabuldeen, a labor worker with Kuwait Municipality, explained: “We come twice a day, starting at 4 am to 8 am, and again in the evening. We roam around the district, collecting solid materials and furniture to take to the Baladiya in Kabad, the Municipality's solid waste management project. Since the fire, the workload has increased significantly, as we haven't seen this many items disposed of in years.”
Resident in Hawally commented: “We were asked to remove our bicycle from the staircase, and the building owner posted a warning letter on our doors to remove shoe racks after hearing about a 500 KD fine imposed on a building in Khaitan. It’s disturbing to have to put the shoe rack inside my already cramped apartment, and I had to get rid of some shoes and belongings to make space.” Moatasem Samara, another resident in Hawally, supported the decision: “A clean environment is essential, but does it really help? We had to throw out many necessary items but also take in some necessary items making it congested and more dangerous due to lack of space inside the apartments.
And given the shoe racks that were enforced indoors is suffocating. Even in mosques, shoes are not kept inside; how can we live, pray, and eat with shoes around us?” Nermeen Saab, a resident in Khaitan, noted: “Our building received a warning letter to remove our building's glass door because it wasn’t safe for emergency evacuations. The door only allowed one person to pass at a time, so they took it off on the same day to avoid penalties. Sharukh came home to find his kids' bicycles and the furniture at the staircase thrown away. It was upsetting to have them discarded without permission, but it was also a relief as he didn’t know what to do with the furniture.”
