Bahrain plans $15m shelter complex
Manama, July 9, 2014
Plans are underway in Bahrain to construct a multi-million dinar complex that will house six government shelters to help abused children and distressed migrant workers.
The BD6 million ($15.8 million) project will feature three new facilities - a men's shelter, a centre for child abuse victims and one for juveniles - and is expected to be operational by 2017, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
Social Development Ministry under-secretary for social welfare and rehabilitation Dr Badriya Al Jeeb said the project, which was still in the initial stages, was being financed by the $10 billion Gulf Development Programme.
"The new facilities in the complex are a men's shelter, a centre for child abuse victims and a juvenile centre. Additionally, the Dar Al Aman Centre for abused women, Child Protection Centre and the Dar Al Karama Centre for the homeless will be shifted to the complex," she told the GDN.
"The cost for the centre is estimated at BD4 million and the remaining BD2 million is allocated for furnishing.
"The shelter will accommodate only non-Bahraini men especially those who are involved in human trafficking cases that need to be sheltered before they are sent back to their home country.
"There is a 100-bed capacity and will not cater to Bahraini men.
"The centre is the result of the government recognising that there are many male expatriates who are involved in various cases and often end up with no place to stay."
Meanwhile, the Dar Al Aman centre will provide shelter for both Bahraini and expatriate women.
Dr Al Jeeb said the complex was being designed by the Works Ministry and the location was not finalised yet.
"We still need the right location and enough space, which is also being assessed by the Works Ministry, to accommodate all these shelters," she said.
"We hope the construction will commence by late 2015 and that it starts functioning fully by January 2017."
Dr Al Jeeb said the centre for victims of child abuse can accommodate 50 children.
"The current centre offers only a rehabilitation facility for abuse victims and doesn't accommodate them there, but the new one will have that facility with specialists to take care of them," she explained.
"The juvenile centre plans are also going on, which will have separate apartments for boys and girls, and will also be monitored by the Interior Ministry."
Other projects in the pipeline include a BD9.6 million social development centre in Isa Town and a specialised centre for the disabled in A'ali.
Dr Al Jeeb explained that the existing Isa Town Community Centre will be demolished while the A'ali complex will accommodate nine more centres for the disabled along with the newly opened BD1 million Abdulla Kanoo Diagnosis and Disability Evaluation Centre.
"They will be functioning as soon they are opened - one by one, but will be officially inaugurated as a complex in 2017 along with the other two," she said.
Moreover, the Isa Town community centre, established in 1980 will be demolished and a new centre with all the latest facilities will take its place. - TradeArabia News Service
