Closing summary
In the afternoon session of the Grenfell inquiry today we heard tributes to the family of Hashim Kedir, Nura Jemal and their children, as well as to Steve Power.
- Assema Kedir Habib, Hashim’s sister, shared her reaction to hearing her nephew, Yaqub Hashim, Hashim’s youngest son, calling “I love you” to his father in the 999 call the family made after finding themselves trapped in their flat.
- She told how her own daughters envied how well Firdaws Hashim had mastered the English language, particularly her ability to say “tracksuit bottoms”.
- Yahya Hashim, the eldest son, was a grateful boy, she said. When his body was identified “I said wherever Yahya was found, the rest of his family will be.”
- Nura Jemal, the children’s mother, was remembered by her nieces as a woman who “did a great job looking after her family”.
- Assema remembered her brother, Hashim Kedir, as having “the widest smile a person could have. “He loved his kids and his wife very much. Whenever we discussed issues regarding family and child upbringing he always felt he hadn’t done enough,” she said.
- She finished her tributes with stinging criticism of how her relatives were allowed to die that night, including how helicopters circled the building filming the fire but did not save anyone. “Dying is one thing. How to die is another thing; and how you were treated after your death is a third thing. Our family members were failed on all three levels.”
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Steve Power was remembered by Claudia Davies, his former partner, and his daughter Sherry, who remembered his love of reggae music. “He was a white Irishman with a pony tail, but when he was DJing he used to shout things like ‘rewind!’ and ‘Jah Rastafari’.”
- Davies had the last word, using her moment on stage to call for Sir Martin Moore-Bick “to do right” by her, her children and others affected by the fire. “The only message I have is for Sir Martin, Theresa May and the rest of the government: basically you do right by us, and you do right for our children,” she said.
Earlier, the inquiry heard the following tributes.
- The “lovely, bubbly” Ligaya Moore, 78, was remembered by her friend Nenita Bunggay as her “mother, sister, everything” during a commemoration on Friday morning.
- Obi Chiejina, younger sister of Vincent Chiejina, 60, told of how a teenager he loved science fiction and “watched religiously” Star Trek. At the 50-plus social group he attended she was told her brother was always very welcoming to newcomers.
- Tributes were heard for the El-Wahabi family - Abdulaziz, 52, mother Faouzia, 41, and children Yasin, 20, Nur Huda, 16, and Mehdi, eight. Abdulaziz’s brother, Hamed El-Wahabi, who broke down before and throughout the tribute, recalled how the pair would spend hours in conversation.
- Huda El-Wahabi was in the middle of her GCSEs when she died and was described as an inspiration to those around her. Mariam El-Wahabi, her younger cousin, said: “We all wanted to be like her. We soon came to the realisation it was impossible to be like her - she was too unique.”
- Faouzia El-Wahabi, was remembered as a wonderful baker who had a talent for sewing. “Our sister-in-law Fouzia was the anchor of our family,” said Hanan Wahabi.
- The cousin of eight-year-old Mehdi El-Wahabi, Sara Chebiouni, nine, said: “It is difficult knowing that Mehdi will never be able to play with us ever again.”
- Khadija Khaloufi was remembered by her husband of 27-years, Sabah Abdullah. “I lost part of me. That’s it. I’ve got nothing else to say”, he said in the film, his voice breaking.
- Jessica Urbano Ramirez, 12, was remembered by her sister Melanie Urbano Ramirez, mother Adriana Ramirez and father Ramiro Urbano. “Listening to some of these other pen portraits this week has been difficult for us as we all wish she could have done more and fulfilled her potential,” Melanie said.
The hearing has now finished for today. Commemorations will resume on Tuesday, after the bank holiday weekend.
The last commemoration today is for Steve Power. Claudia Davies is going first.
Steve Power was my first love and father of my first son ... Like everybody else [I am] deeply traumatised by events of June 14th. We only buried Steve a week before Christmas so last year’s still very raw.
She read out some words from Rag and Bone Man’s song, Skin. And she gave her thanks to Stormzy, the rapper, who has called strongly for justice for those who died in the Grenfell fire.
Sherry, Steve’s daughter, also shared some memories of her father.
As kids he exposed us to so many different [kinds of] music, I got a real appreciation of music. He was a white Irishman with a pony tail, but when he was DJing he used to shout things like ‘rewind!’ and ‘Jah Rastafari’
Our dad used to say the funniest things. I remember being accepted into university and telling him about it. He just couldn’t help saying: ‘You are going to university but I’ve been to the university of life.’
Sherry said that her father was not in Grenfell Tower when the fire started, but that he had entered the building to wake her up. She denied news reports that claimed he had stayed in the tower to look after his beloved dogs, saying that he had done so - as had so many others - because they were told to stay put by authorities.
The dogs stayed wrapped around him right to the end. He needs justice. All the victims do, because as much as he loved that block, he never deserved to die in it.
Before the inquiry could close, Claudia made an impassioned last minute intervention, calling on Sir Martin Moore-Bick “to do right” by her children, by getting to the bottom of why the tragic events of 14 June were allowed to happen.
The only message I have is for Sir Martin, Theresa May and the rest of the government: basically you do right by us, and you do right for our children.
Bedriya Jemal Kelbeto, Nura’s eldest sister, remembered the day that Nura, a “tiny little baby”, first appeared at their home.
We are bleeding inside we are so hurt it is so sad to lose all five of them at least if one could have survived we could have kept the name of the family ...
Even now when I think of that time it still hurts me badly. Only after the burial could we say that’s it, there is no hope.
Although I might seem like an ordinary human being moving around and functioning as usual, inside I’m burning. Coming here and talking to people who knew her and loved her and her children, and discovering how respected she was her gives us some sort of comfort.
Nurya Jemal Kelbeto, Nura’s sister, said she was working as a housekeeper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, when her sister died at Grenfell. She was called by relatives to Mecca to hear the news.
When I was asked to give this statement I was disturbed but I felt the truth needs to come out. What matters to me is to know how my sister died. I want to know if there’s anybody who bears responsibility. Because I cannot bring them back I can only pray to god to bless them now.
Weingarten is reading out a written statement from Sadik Jemal Kelbeto, Nura Jemal’s brother. He told the story of her life, how she from a young age moved to Addis Ababa to work and support her family.
A commemoration by Hashim’s older brother, Shemsu Kadir Habib, is now being read out by the family’s lawyer, Miri Weingarten.
He was so clever. From year one to year 12 he was always number one in the class. In university he had straight As - he studied electrical engineering at Addis Ababa.
I remember he used to try to encourage me to get married and have children. He said: ‘Allah gave me these three beautiful children, I want you to have the same.’
Shemsu gives an account of how their father deteriorated in health after hearing news of Hashim’s death.
The day we heard the news our father was numb. He didn’t cry, he kept it all inside but he couldn’t sit still and then he had difficulties breathing. My brother and I took him to hospital but his condition deteriorated and after a few days, on the 26th of June, he passed away.
He said not knowing the reasons for his brother’s family’s death has been the worst part of the ordeal.
We still have no clear report at all of what actually happened; no one has taken responsibility. Not knowing is the hardest thing. This is why I’m here.
That last contribution was harrowing and long and a lady has just collapsed in the gang way just beside me, apparently in some distress. She is being attended to by a police officer, an NHS worker, a doctor and Jon Snow, the Channel Four News presenter who pretty much caught her as she fell back.
People are being asked to leave the room to give her some space. It is also very warm in the room and the temperature is being turned down.
Assema’s statement ends with a stinging indictment of the behaviour of authorities on the night of the fire, as well as in its aftermath.
We as a family are left with nothing, absolutely nothing. Grenfell Tower was on fire for more than 24 hours. We were literally watching our loved ones turn from alive, waving and begging from the window, to ashes.
Assema said she did not blame the firefighters who tried to save the residents that night. But she added:
Some other responsible government department sitting somewhere was just sitting and watching them turn to ashes. The whole world had watched on TV a lady waving a white cloth from the 22nd floor. My brother and his family were found in the same flat.
She expressed her bitterness at the helicopter that circled the tower filming the victims trapped inside, without making any attempt to save even a single child.
Dying is one thing. How to die is another thing; and how you were treated after your death is a third thing. Our family members were failed on all three levels.
Assema’s tributes have now turned to her brother, Hashim.
He had the widest smile a person could have.
He was generous. He loved to share whatever he had with others without bragging.
He loved his kids and his wife very much. Whenever we discussed issues regarding family and child upbringing he always felt he hadn’t done enough
Assema spoke about how Hashim had been bright at school, but had given up education to work a series of jobs to provide for his family. Shortly before their deaths, he had earned a black cab licence, which they hoped would spell the end of their struggles.
Hashim had to work long hours; he felt guilty about being away from them and not taking them on holiday more often.
Here are the words of Hanan and Elisa in tribute to their aunty, Nura:
You did a great job taking care of your family. You cared about us, you cared about everyone around you and you had no problem showing your love.
I love you so much aunty, I love you. We love you and we will miss you every day of our lives.
Assema’s tributes have now turned to her nephew, Yahya Hashim.
Yahya was a very grateful boy. He used to say ‘ah, delicious’ to whatever food he was served - even before tasting it.
I miss that laugh so much. He used to call us just to say hi and sometimes leave some irritating voice or video messages.
I always felt very close to Yahya. He trusted me, he would tell me things and ask me not to tell his parents; he would appreciate my advice.
Yahya was the first one in the family to be identified by the coroner, and when we were told of his identification I said wherever Yahya was found, the rest of his family will be.
Assema’s commemoration for her niece, Firdaws, is now being read out.
My daughters envied her her spoken English. They used to ask her to repeat words and expressions since they used to love to hear her saying them. ‘Tracksuit bottoms’ was their favourite.
Firdaws’ cousins Hanan and Elisa wrote
Dear Firdaws, I was always in awe of you. You were so intelligent, so talented, but also so kind and humble. Sometimes people forget to show appreciation for their friends and relatives but you never did.
You spread so much love and positivity and I always admired you for that.
Assema’s commemoration turned, at the end, to the events of 14 June.
[When] we realised the heart wrecking facts of the 14th of June, I hoped that Yaqub was asleep that night and hadn’t seen any of the horrible things that happened.
The 999 calls of that night proved me wrong. I heard my brother calling, ‘Yaqub’.
I then heard Yaqub calling: ‘I love you too, daddy.’
The hearing is now beginning again. First this afternoon we are to hear tributes to Hashim Kedir, Nura Jemal, Hashim Firdaws Hashim and Yaqub Hashim, who lived in flat 192. The words of Assema, in tribute to Yaqub, are being read out on her behalf:
Yaqub was born in 2011. He was the only one of that family who was born in that tower ... I remember calling them when on his birthday. He was so surprised that my daughters and me called and sang happy birthday ... I was always fascinated by Yaqub, by his energy, his physical fitness and his sharp mind ... I always wondered and was looking forward to see how he would turn out when he grew up.
Many of the survivors at the inquiry have been at Friday prayer at nearby mosques and are arriving back at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel for the final session of a gruelling week which begins at 2.15pm. A lot of those here have attended every day, hearing tributes so far to 41 of the deceased with a further six people scheduled to to be commemorated this afternoon.
There have been dozens of testimonies from loved ones, including people who have flown in from abroad including Morocco and Eritrea. It has been emotionally exhausting for many but it has also been powerful and heartfelt and is proving another opportunity for people to come together and support each other.
Some thoughts are turning to the anniversary of the fire on 14 June. It looks likely that the monthly silent procession which has been taking place on the 14th of every month will be a centrepiece of commemorations, along with services at the local church and mosque, with other events also being planned by groups of survivors.
Summary
Here’s a rundown of the commemorations heard so far in today’s hearing at the Grenfell inquiry.
- The “lovely, bubbly” Ligaya Moore, 78, was remembered by her friend Nenita Bunggay as her “mother, sister, everything” during a commemoration on Friday morning.
- Obi Chiejina, younger sister of Vincent Chiejina, 60, told of how a teenager he loved science fiction and “watched religiously” Star Trek. At the 50-plus social group he attended she was told her brother was always very welcoming to newcomers.
- Tributes were heard for the El-Wahabi family - Abdulaziz, 52, mother Faouzia, 41, and children Yasin, 20, Nur Huda, 16, and Mehdi, eight. Abdulaziz’s brother, Hamed El-Wahabi, who broke down before and throughout the tribute, recalled how the pair would spend hours in conversation.
- Huda El-Wahabi was in the middle of her GCSEs when she died and was described as an inspiration to those around her. Mariam El-Wahabi, her younger cousin, said: “We all wanted to be like her. We soon came to the realisation it was impossible to be like her - she was too unique.”
- Faouzia El-Wahabi, was remembered as a wonderful baker who had a talent for sewing. “Our sister-in-law Fouzia was the anchor of our family,” said Hanan Wahabi.
- The cousin of eight-year-old Mehdi El-Wahabi, Sara Chebiouni, nine, said: “It is difficult knowing that Mehdi will never be able to play with us ever again.”
- Khadija Khaloufi was remembered by her husband of 27-years, Sabah Abdullah. “I lost part of me. That’s it. I’ve got nothing else to say”, he said in the film, his voice breaking.
- Jessica Urbano Ramirez, 12, was remembered by her sister Melanie Urbano Ramirez, mother Adriana Ramirez and father Ramiro Urbano. “Listening to some of these other pen portraits this week has been difficult for us as we all wish she could have done more and fulfilled her potential,” Melanie said.
The inquiry hearing is now pausing until 2.15pm to accommodate for Friday prayers.
We are now to hear the commemoration for Jessica Urbano Ramirez, who died two weeks short of her 13th birthday, presented by her family. Her sister said:
Jess was just reaching that age where you just begin to plan your future. Listening to some of the other pen portraits this week has been difficult for us because we always thought she could do more.
The video is showing pictures of the youngster, with voiceover tributes from her parents. We hear that she loved choosing her clothes, music, singing and seeing her friends. Her father, Ramiro, said:
There are no words to describe the feelings of emptiness inside us. It’s only people in the same circumstances as use that can feel this pain.
The short film ended with another tribute from Jessica’s sister, Melanie.
I never thought I would be writing something like this for my sister Jessica. Not a day goes by without her crossing my mind.
Jess was full of joy, full of laughter and she deserved to live a happy life surrounded by family and friends who loved her.
I will miss having a sister, but she will always be in my heart. She lit up our lives for the short time that she stayed with us. I will love you always Jessica.
Updated
We were a bit late starting the live blog today, after the inquiry hearings began half an hour earlier than usual. But our reporter Rob Booth at the Millennium Gloucester hotel has sent some details of what went on.
Earlier the inquiry heard from Nenita Bunggay, a close friend of Ligaya Moore, 78 who also lived on the 21stfloor. She broke down in tears as she recalled the last moments she had with her friend as they prepared food in her flat, Ligaya calmly scraping the flesh from an avocado.
“She was not only my friend,” she said. “She was my mother, sister and everything.”
A film was shown about Nigeria-born Vincent Chiejina, 60, who lived on the 17th floor. He was remembered as a selfless person who spent a lot of time supporting other men in the 50-plus age group.
We now have the tribute for Khadija Khaloufi, a film presented by her husband of 27 years, Saba Abdullah. He says they met in London while she was a studying in France, and were first married, in an Islamic ceremony, in 1990.
She gave me the right impression right from the beginning, that she’s the right person for me, the right one. To the extent that she was looking after the friends and neighbours more than looking after me. But she’s so fantastic, fantastic. I don’t know how to describe - I wish I could see or find someone like her, even if it’s a little bit less that’s okay; but I don’t think it’s available.
Abdullah remembers how she was “basically a very helpful lady to all the neighbours in need.”
She was always helping others - and not helping me sometimes. For her the neighbours the friends they come first. She’s always there to give help and advice and to run with them to wherever they’ve got stuck.
The couple travelled a lot by car to visit family and friends of Khadija in France, Holland, Germany and Belgium, says Abdullah. A particularly fond memory is of the couple in Marrakech, where they took photos when a monkey owned by a street hawker jumped on her.
I lost part of me. That’s it. I’ve got nothing else to say.
There is now a 20 minute break
Powerful video tributes to the El Wahabi family are being played, including footage of their burned out flat in Grenfell tower. The voice of a bereaved woman remembers the moment she saw Faouzia’s recovered remains.
After I saw the bones in the mortuary I was worried I was not going to remember the smile. But I’m happy that I do remember the smile: always happy, always bubbly, that’s Faouzia.
A statement read out on behalf of Faouzia’s mother traced her life from birth. It ended:
How am I supposed to cope during the summer when everyone comes to see their family and I will be waiting to see my beautiful daughter and grandchildren?
Members of the audience are being given a few minutes to leave the room before video tributes to Faouzia and Yasin El Wahabi.
Some 20 people have decided to leave the room before these next videos which the inquiry has been warned will show the burning tower. The warning follows the incident on Tuesday when two people collapsed and many others were upset when such images were shown without warning.
Ahmed Chellat is writing out the commemoration of the El Wahabi family on behalf of his wife Ghita, brother of Abdulaziz El Wahabi, who is on pilgrimage in Mecca.
My brother was the first born in the family so he was very special, we all loved him ... He was very kind, generous, selfless and respectful person, who always put a smile on everyone’s face.
Chellat, flanked by his daughter, is faltering as he reads out the tribute. In it his wife remembers how Yasin and Nur Huda used to spend time with them at their house, and how she or her husband would walk them home at night.
I will miss little things like this.
A young cousin of Mehdi El Wahabi is now reading out his commemoration.
“I couldn’t have read like that at nine-years old and I think you did a beautiful job,” she is told.
Tributes are being paid to Nur Huda El Wahabi by her younger cousin.
I was younger than Nur Huda but I remember watching her growing into a beautiful young woman. I’m so thankful to have shared 12 years of my life with Nur Huda.
The girl giving the tributes remembered how her older cousin looked out for her. She read out tributes from former teachers of Nur Huda. Emma Jones, who taught Nur Huda at primary school said:
Nur Huda’s generous smile and sense of humour stay with me to this day ... Nur Huda had a strong sense of her identity and was always true to herself and what she believed in.
Two families of five and a 12-year-old girl are among victims of the Grenfell Tower fire to be commemorated at the public inquiry on Friday.
It will be the fifth day of tributes to the 72 dead, which are being held before chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick begins hearing evidence at the probe.
Due to be remembered are the El-Wahabi family, who were killed as they awaited rescue from their home on the 21st floor on the night of June 14 last year.
They included father Abdulaziz, 52, mother Faouzia, 41, and children Yasin, 20, Nur Huda, 16, and Mehdi, eight.
Abdulaziz’s sister Hana told reporters at the time: “He said he had been told to stay inside, stay in one room together and put towels under the door.”
The family, she said, were last seen waving frantically out of their window.
Another young victim of the fire, Jessica Urbano Ramirez, is expected to be honoured by her loved ones during the hearing.
She died just weeks before her 13th birthday and is thought to have run up to the 23rd floor to escape the flames.
Friday should also feature a presentation commemorating a second family wiped out by the fire. Hashim Kedir, 44, died alongside wife Nura Jemal, 35, daughter Firdows Hashim, 12, and sons Yahya Hashim, 13, and Yaqub Hashim, six. They had been in their 22nd floor flat when the blaze took hold.
During a busy day for the inquiry, portraits of three other victims will be heard in the morning. Vincent Chiejina, 60, who was recovered from the 17th floor, Ligaya Moore, 78, a Filipino grandmother who had lived in the UK for 43 years, and Steve Power, 63, who was recovered from the 15th floor, are all expected to be remembered.
Personal portraits of the 72 victims are expected to continue until next Wednesday at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, South Kensington.
