The work to press ahead with Albania’s reconstruction and recovery program in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit the country on Nov 26 last year is well underway despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of State for Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj held an online session with main donors and partners to discuss progress on post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction program.
PM Rama put emphasis on the concept of effectively working together to meet the deadlines and the government’s main priorities on housing, building new schools and the public infrastructure.
“We need that you to take this priority-oriented approach forward and together make sure it best matches and harmonizes with our financing needs,” the Premier said.
According to Reconstruction Minister Ahmetaj, the main pillar of the entire process is “rebuilding again better and more solid structures, something everyone has agreed on since beginning of reconstruction process.” Minister Ahmetaj briefed donors on the steps of the entire reconstruction process. “It all starts with a profound damage assessment process and it is then followed by the applications via the specific online platform and the evaluation process of each application submitted by the quake-affected families and individuals. The next step involves the mandatory local urban plans that have been already detailed. The process then continues with the demolition of the quake-damaged buildings, which might sound quite easy, yet it is not at all as it takes a lot of coordinating work and significant funding. Next step is the expropriation process and then the procurement procedures, with the relevant agencies tasked with carrying out this process and then, the common denominator, which is the donors’ coordination in this process,” Ahmetaj noted.
According to the data presented by Minister Ahmetaj, a total of 2043 construction permits have been approved to date and the permits have been already issued in accordance to an accelerated process. In the meantime, the in-depth damage assessment process has technically completed, Ahmetaj said, adding that a total of 26 new development sites have been identified and 14 mandatory local development plans have been already endorsed and 12 other plans are undergoing the adoption process.
PM Rama put emphasis on cooperation and the work coordination efforts. “It is important to underline again the need for us to work together. We should structure our communication through this Task Force and the Technical Secretariat to make sure that everyone’s efforts are channelled in the right direction and the right direction implies a cohesive way with the vision and the program and you know quite well this is essential,” the Premier said.
