We will continue to stand by you and take care of you as the humanitarian operation in support of needy families, lonely older people or retirees who do not rely on their children and relatives continues door-to-door every day, Prime Minister Edi Rama reiterated in a live video link with citizens, based on data collected via the emergency communication channel at www.shqiperiaqeduam.al.
“More than 17, 821 people have been contacted, while we go on collecting and processing all sorts of concerns, in an effort to stand by and assist each and every one of you. Let me and please allow me to once again reiterate my appeal for utmost patience, because the volume of problems and issues we need to tackle is incredibly high, yet the number of forces available to us is not extraordinary, meaning that once we contact you, we convey your concerns to the local government authorities that carry out their verification and then an entire solidarity network acts and is set in motion and this network is working perfectly in whole territory of the republic, but it doesn’t possess indefinite capacities to cover and address all problems at once. Meanwhile, the humanitarian operation is underway with teams delivering relief supplies according to list of those on the registers of the low-income and poor families, or providing assistance to the lonely retirees and those who don’t depend on their family members,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said, highlighting dozens of cases that have been promptly tackled.
The Premier renewed his appeal to everyone to respect the restriction, limiting shopping to just one family member, who will need to seek permission from the specially launched app to leave home as part of tougher measures taken by the government to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country. “To receive a travel permit you should access the State Police website. In the meantime, we will continue to assist, support and constantly take care of you by providing everything we can. Our OOur opportunities are not limitless. I am pleased that the web platform and app to leave home is now fully operational. As such, you are now obliged to strictly respect the law, meaning that starting tomorrow, the police will no longer advice, but will impose penalties. Therefore, I beg everyone, please respect the restriction, limiting shopping to just one family member.“
As to the worries about the termination of social insurance contribution paid by the private sector workers during the stay-at-home period, the Prime Minister stated “this is legally prohibited and totally impossible. We are treating all these, because we face many problems of this kind. ”
In a direct phone call with a citizen regarding the payment of the electricity bills, the Premier said: “Electricity is a commodity and every consumer should pay it. If electricity is consumed and consumers do not pay for it, then the country will plunge into an abyss, meaning that we will never be able to recover again, let alone be able to cope with a difficult situation that may follow, as this story is not going to end today. It is impossible to engage in a debate over the payment of the electricity bills, because electricity is a commodity that is produced and consumed instantly. So, whoever in financial trouble should reduce consumption. It is wartime and not a peacetime. We of course understand the plight and difficulties of everyone and it is truly painful for me to state these are obstacles we cannot overcome. Therefore I ask for your understanding that this is wartime and we need to definitely win this war, so that we don’t emerge from the war against this invisible enemy and we all end up into a huge pit in even worse conditions than in time I don’t want to recall and that we will not allow happening again.”
The Premier informed that the mechanism of disbursement of funds available to those who are unemployed and small business is ready and has been already announced publicly.
“The state, our common house has limited opportunities. We will do whatever it takes. Today we have announced the disbursement mechanism of the available funds due to be transferred to all of those who can’t go to work since their small businesses have been shut down and due to the stay-at-home order. Households living under financial assistance and the unemployed will have their social welfare payments doubled and we will then move our humanitarian operation towards pensioners and certain families that are in very difficult situation. Please be patient. We are calling everyone and we are contacting all local government authorities all over the country. Local government authorities conduct their verifications to identify the needs and where to intervene when it comes to direct economic help. Meanwhile, whenever needing to express concerns over your health, the need to leave house and everything else, you should contact this emergency communication channel, provide reasons, leave your phone numbers, and a team of more than 200 persons are working around the clock to do everything we can to tackle you problems.”
