[:mt]Xi ġranet ilu sirt naf dwar il-bżonn ta’ appartamenti għal tobba u nurses li qed jaħdmu f’riskju tal- Coronavirus u li kien ikun aħjar għalihom li ma jibqgħux joqogħdu mal-familji tagħhom.
Għandi appartament l-Imsida li hu qrib ħafna tal-isptar, imma bħalissa vojt għax lil min kont nikrih ħareġ. Ħsibt li noffrih lil dawn in-nies li qed jissugraw ħajjithom għalina, u li għandhom bżonn is-sapport tagħna f’dan il-mument iebes meta qed jaħdmu siegħat twal u jiċċaħħdu mill-familji tagħhom. “Għaliex le?” għidt “Mhux xi ħaġa kbira, nitlef il-kera ta’ xi xahrejn!”
Staqsejt lill-mara ta’ ibni li taħdem fil-qasam tas-saħħa biex inkun żgura li din kienet talba ġenwina u biex tikseb informazzjoni dwarha. Meta kellimtha dwar dan, staqsietni jekk kontx lesta li noffrih lil oħtha. Oħtha hi tabiba, li bħalissa qed taħdem ma’ team li għandu x’jaqsam mal-Covid-19 u xtaqet li ma tibqax tgħix mal-ġenituri tagħha li t-tnejn għandhom fuq is-sebgħin sena. Ma kelli ebda problema li noffrihulha għax din hi tabiba wkoll, u hekk għamilt. Tlabtha biss tieħu ħsieb tħallas il-kont tal-ilma u d-dawl.
Dakinhar stess filgħaxija rrealizzajt li n-nies, li jikru l-appartment l-ieħor li għandi, jaħdmu fil-qasam tat-turiżmu, li ntlaqat sew minn din il-kriżi. U bdejt naħseb: dawn żgur ser iċemplu biex innaqsilhom il-kera. U għidt: minn kera ta’ żewġ appartamenti ser nispiċċa b’nofs kera ta’ wieħed. Barra minn hekk, ma kontx qed nistenna li naħdem wara Marzu.
Iżda ħassejt li ma stajtx immur lura mid-deċiżjoni li kont ħadt. Kelli nagħmel il-parti tiegħi kollha li ma kenitx biss li nibqa’ d-dar skont kif inhu mitlub minna lkoll. Id-dħul tiegħi ser jonqos b’mod drastiku, imma jeħtieġ li naħseb fl-oħrajn. U nemmen fil-Providenza!
J. E. (Malta)
[:en]A few days ago I read an appeal for apartments to be used my doctors or nurses working at risk of being infected with Covid-19 and who, rightfully so, do not wish to go home to their families for fear of putting them at risk too.
As it happens, the tenants in my Msida apartment moved out and I have been cleaning it and preparing it for new tenants. It is located quite close to hospital and I thought “Why not? A couple of months without rent is no big deal. These people are risking their lives for us. They need help to see them through this rough time not only because of the long, intense hours they are working but also because they are being deprived of their families.”
My daughter-in-law works in health administration so I asked her if this appeal was genuine and informed her of my proposal. She said she would check and let me know. When we eventually spoke, she asked if her sister, who is a doctor and who had been shifted to the virus team, could move into the flat as the parents are well into their seventies. I had no problem with that because it didn’t matter to me who the doctor was. I requested no rent, just the payment of water and electricity.
That evening I held my breath for a moment when I realised that the tenants in my other apartment worked for the tourist industry which would surely be hit by the crisis. I expected a call from them requesting a reduction in rent. I thought that from receiving an income from two apartments, I was probably going to end up with half a rent from only one. Furthermore, I was not expecting to be working beyond March.
But I wasn’t about to back-track from my decision. I had to do my bit which meant not only just staying at home. Sure, my income was going to be drastically reduced but I had to think of others too. Jesus will provide!
J. E. (Malta)
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Well done!!!
What wonderful experiences. Thanks.