{"id":151691,"date":"2023-03-09T14:48:10","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T13:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=151691"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:41","slug":"student-hazem-forced-out-of-house-due-to-danger-of-collapsed-facade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/03\/09\/student-hazem-forced-out-of-house-due-to-danger-of-collapsed-facade\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Hazem forced out of house due to danger of collapsed facade"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hazem Omran has been unable to enter his home since Sunday morning. According to the municipality, his home is not safe due to a nearly collapsing facade. “I am currently staying with friends and living out of my backpack”, the Communication and Media student says.<\/p>\n

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Four buildings on the 1e Middellandstraat were evacuated on Sunday morning.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHazem Omran<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Sunday night Hazem came home at 2am after a night out. Three hours later, he heard banging on the door. \u201cBefore I could open the door, it was breached by firemen\u201d, he says. \u201cThere I was, standing in the hall, still half asleep.\u201d He lives in a three-room apartment on 1e Middellandstraat, above a jewelry store, with a roommate \u2013 also an EUR student. Along with his roommate and the residents of three other properties, Hazem was evacuated.<\/p>\n

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Hazem walked past his house on Thursday.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOwn photo<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Once outside, he was told that a neighbour called the emergency line because she heard a loud bang in the building next to Hazem\u2019s apartment. He was aware that that building was being renovated, because its foundation had to be repaired. \u201cWhen the construction workers were busy with a drill, my apartment would literally shake\u201d, he says. \u201cThis caused cracks to appear in our wall.\u201d Hazem had previously been in contact with the municipality and the building contractor about the cracks. \u201cThe construction workers had come by, but they said the cracks had been there longer and had nothing to do with the construction works\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n

Shelter<\/h2>

The evacuated residents waited outside for hours that Sunday morning. \u201cI was lucky to have grabbed a coat during the evacuation because it was cold\u201d, he tells. Soon after the evacuation, a mobile shack arrived for the residents and aid workers. \u201cThat was nice because we could have a drink there and warm ourselves up.\u201d Later, they learned that their homes wouldn\u2019t be inaccessible for a while. \u201cWe were allowed to, one by one, pick up stuff from our house. I quickly grabbed my laptop, books, some clothes and my guitar. At least then I can play guitar when I\u2019m bored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018The first two days it still felt like an adventure. But now I\u2019m fed up\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Hazem was offered a place in a communal shelter by the municipality. They were welcome to sleep in a sport hall if they couldn\u2019t arrange a place to sleep for themselves. Fortunately, he was able to stay with a friend in Kralingen. \u201cThe first two days it still felt like an adventure. But now I\u2019m fed up, it\u2019s not nice not having your own space where you can do whatever you want. I now stay with different friends and live out of my backpack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Landlord<\/h2>

Hazem doesn\u2019t know how long the facade repairs will take, but he has an agreement with his landlord: if he still can\u2019t get into his house by Sunday, his landlord will arrange an airbnb or other accommodation for him. \u201cFortunately, my parents live in Roosendaal, so I could still commute to campus if I have to. But I really want to get back to my own house as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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