Sharjah launches two digital services for condolence tents, fire-hit homes

Sharjah Civil Defence Authority (SCDA) has announced the development of two digital services in integration with Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA).

These services are designed to streamline the procedures for setting up condolence tents and restoring electricity to homes and facilities affected by fires.

This initiative aims to alleviate the burden of navigating government administrative processes by automating the issuance of no-objection certificates and enabling direct exchange of data between the two entities.

The new service enables the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for setting up a condolence tent in less than three minutes from the time of application, submitted via Sharjah Digital app or SCDA’s platform.

The application data is then automatically forwarded to SEWA to facilitate the connection of electricity. Furthermore, the service automates the issuance of NOCs for the restoration of electricity following fire incidents, in accordance with established requirements.

This streamlines the customer journey, allowing procedures to be completed between the two entities without the need for the customer to visit either office in person.

“As effective government service begins with understanding people’s circumstances and needs, especially during times when their burdens are compounded, we have focused on developing these two services to ensure our procedures are more considerate toward families during periods of bereavement and more responsive to the needs of those affected by fires,” said Major General Yousef Obaid Harmoul Al Shamsi, Director General of SCDA.

“Our responsibility toward the community extends to supporting individuals as they overcome the aftermath of incidents and helping them return to their daily lives, all while upholding essential safety and prevention requirements,” he added.

Regarding the service for issuing a no-objection certificate for setting up temporary tents, SCDA enables the entire process to be completed electronically. Once the certificate is issued, the application data for a condolence tent is automatically transmitted to SEWA. This allows SEWA to initiate the necessary procedures for connecting electricity, sparing the applicant from having to submit a separate request or physically transport documents between the two entities.

This mechanism offers families a smoother experience during times of bereavement; they simply submit an application electronically, while the concerned authorities handle the co-ordination through a direct link between their respective systems.

This helps alleviate the procedural burdens associated with arranging a condolence tent, reflecting a service-oriented approach that is both sensitive to the unique nature of such circumstances and responsive with speed and flexibility.

The second service concerns the issuance of a no-objection certificate for the reconnection of electricity to homes and facilities affected by fire incidents.

The entire process has been fully automated and certificate data and application details are transmitted electronically to SEWA to facilitate the reconnection, eliminating the need for applicants to visit either entity’s offices to submit documents or track the progress of the request between the two authorities.

It goes without saying that applications for electricity reconnection for residential homes are exempt from fees, in consideration of the humanitarian circumstances of those affected by the fire.

The development of these two services is part of SCDA’s efforts to redesign its offerings around the needs of customers and enhance integration with partners, thereby reducing the redundant submission of data and documents and eliminating unnecessary in-person visits.

SCDA continues to leverage digital solutions to provide services that are more accessible to the community, services that combine efficient delivery with a consideration for human circumstances, ultimately supporting the quality of life in the Emirate of Sharjah.