Less than a month ago the images of Grenfell Tower in the affluent London Borough of Kensington And Chelsea caught the hearts of the nation as we watched almost in real time the inferno engulfing the 24 storey tower block.
Grenfell, the aftermath
Immediately after the catastrophe, the public were quick to support the disaster and volunteers were soon overwhelmed by donations of clothes, food and other necessities for everyday living. Survivors were ferried to hotel rooms nearby and visits were made by Royalty and the Prime Minister and Simon Cowell gathered together celebrity friends to produce a charity single.
Authorities were quickly onto the case of who or what was to blame and it was found that the cladding used on the building was substandard and unsuitable for buildings as a fire-retardant. It was also found that the building, inhabited by these people living on the very fringes of society, lacked sprinkler systems, lacked adequate fire escapes, lacked suitable internal fire doors. The list goes on. A scapegoat was needed and the leader of Kensington and Chelsea council was urged to fall on his sword.
Three weeks on
It is safe to say that Grenfell Tower no longer occupies the column inches it did when the disaster first happened but nonetheless the victims are still there, living this nightmare day-to-day.
Three weeks on and some survivors are still living in hotel rooms with no news as to when the situation will end. In interviews, they have said that they have no way of contacting anyone from the council regarding rehousing. There has been no news about compensation after Theresa May quickly announced that the survivors would receive the princely sum of £5000 each for losing their entire world.
Sajid Javid, Communities Secretary, has announced that a 'task force' will be deployed to the council to work on the vulnerable areas of housing and community relations and Elizabeth Campbell the newly appointed leader of the council welcomes this, stating that there " was still deep anger in the community."
The latest indignity
In a shocking U-turn Home Office officials have announced that anyone wanting help must register with the Home Office and within 12 months be subject to normal immigration checks.
This is following on from Theresa May's assurance that the Grenfell disaster would not be used to check out individual's immigration status. A 12-month amnesty will be little comfort to anyone who survived the horrors of that night.
It remains to be seen if and how the government and council will resolve this problem for those directly involved. It was an opportunity for the PM to show real leadership in a delicate situation, but, it seems, the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower survivors will go on for many months yet.
