Many quake-affected families in the remote village of Qinam, Zallherr administrative unit, are gradually moving into their newly-built homes. Xhixha family is one of the 104 households that have already moved into their new houses in this Tirana’s mountainous suburb.
Flamur and his family of six welcomed Prime Minister Edi Rama as the first guest visiting them in their 3 bedroom house.
“Flamur and his family used to live in this contained here after their house was destroyed due to the earthquake. Construction of their house completed today and they are moving into the new dwelling. More than 100 families have already moved into their new house. First lot of the project on construction of 54 houses has completed. This is only one of the 54 houses in this remote area that includes the villages of Qinam, Kallmet and the bordering area with Boville. But this area doesn’t include the new residential neighbourhood being rebuilt in Zallherr, somewhere at the centre of the administrative unit. This is a three-bedroom +1 house, because the family head lives with her son Fatos, his wife and three kids,” Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj said, adding that accessing this area is very difficult because of the distance from the main road. “Let’s state things openly. Crews of workers have been changed three times. You saw it for yourself how remote is the area, but Tirana borders with Bovilla under the administrative reform, but Tirana also includes the so-called Bllok neighbourhood. So, Spartan efforts have been made just to transport workers and the vehicles to the area. Some 104 houses, each on a separate hill, have been built here.”
On their part, the family members said that the house they lost in the earthquake was an old dilapidated building. “Thank you! We don’t know how to describe how happy we are. Thanking you is never enough. The old house was a derelict structure.”
After congratulating the family on their new home, PM Rama availed himself of the opportunity to underline that visits to the new houses of the quake-affected families are not part of a propaganda, but a way to inform other quake-affected families on the progress of the post-earthquake reconstruction programme.
“We are visiting these families so that other families waiting for their new homes to be built can see for themselves that construction work is underway and many families are gradually moving into their houses. This is because the TV channels do not report on the ongoing work, but they report on various claims, statements, and news stories on crimes that take place throughout the world. But news coverage on crime incidents last just one minute in other countries around the world, whereas the TV channels here report consistently on such stories. If TV channels in Italy were to report news stories on crime then the news programs would last six hours. Likewise, if the media in America were to report on the number of accidents and crime incidents, then they would have been reporting 24-hour a day about these stories and broadcast nothing else but the news stories. And therefore there is no other way for the people to learn about the work being done as part of the reconstruction process. This is neither a propaganda show, nor an inauguration ceremony, but it is part of the effort to inform other people, as there are still families living in makeshift tents, in cabins or rented houses and are waiting for their own homes to complete. We need to inform them constantly and tell them what has been done, what is being done and this way they would see the reality for themselves. This is because it is very difficult to inform them through words, as they think that everyone says and does the same, but when they see you coming up here they realize that work is underway,” the Premier said, adding that many challenges ensued and therefore it takes patience to cope with them. “We didn’t face what to do challenge only. We had also to destroy and undo what had been done wrong and do then them properly. They keep asking “why are you seeking re-election for a third term in office, but the third term is needed so that we can go on with our battles. These are all battles. The battle against the earthquake has yet to end. The earthquake struck, but it left a lot of damages behind. We will complete the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the new infections and the difficulties we are facing. Likewise, the battle against the health crisis has yet to complete in all directions. We will also carry out the vaccination process. A lot of work remains to be done in the villages and rural areas across the country. What comes for bad should be turned into an opportunity. The earthquake happened for bad, but it was transformed into an opportunity. You now have a new house that you would probably never be able to build. This is for you and your children. Thousands of families will move into new homes built back better, stronger, safer and larger than the houses they used to live in before the earthquake. Children will now go to the most beautiful houses in Albania. The same goes for the new healthcare centres and hospitals. Everything is turning for good, but it takes a lot of patience.”
