Work kicked off to construct new homes in the village of Thumane, one of the worst-hit areas due to the devastating earthquake that rattled Albania on Nov 26 last year. Construction work began after installation of the entire underground and subsurface infrastructure, after clearing and excavation works on the construction site covering a total of 12 hectares, where the site’s swampy soil was first filled and reinforced with layers of stones and special ground reinforcing mesh. This part of the individual houses in the New Thumane neighbourhood will be built by Firdeus Foundation. 

“Chaos used to reign here. Now that you have built the infrastructure, everything is going just fine and it is now our turn to start work to build 165 houses. You have already built entire infrastructure,” President of the Firdeus Foundation Elvis Naçi said while accompanying Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of State for Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj during an inspection of the area.

In the meantime, work is set to commence very soon to construct apartment buildings, in a project that in addition to the state budget funding to cover construction of the social-cultural buildings and sports facilities, it will include also the donation granted by Behgjet Pacolli. “It is a symbol of the natural disaster and the symbolism of the unification of a contribution of many Albanians through the Firdeus Foundation, a contribution that stems from the charity spirit, and the contribution of a Kosovo Albanian businessmen, who has provided a considerable donation and the state that has constructed infrastructure and will continue with the rest of the project. And this is a great message of solidarity,” PM Rama said.

Describing the start of the construction work as a dream coming true, Elvis Naçi called for understanding of the quake-affected families and the contributors for the delays in commencing construction of the new homes because of another huge work volume to build and install the required infrastructure. “The people’s impatience, combined with the those who have no problem throwing mud – the Premier said referring to similar comments against him adding: some refuse to realize that a project doesn’t begin once those awarded the contract to implement the project kick off work on the ground, but it begins with its design, the entire study and once the whole funding is secured to carry out tender procedures, the infrastructure is built and then the houses are constructed.”

The President of the Firdeus Foundation expressed appreciation also for the fact that although the government could have built all the new homes, it allowed the Foundation to be part of this contribution. “The state has certainly the means to do a lot of things, but it lacked the opportunities to do everything. That’s why we are grateful also to all donors, including the international donors, about whom I have to explain again that there are people who ask ‘where did the money end up’ and I want to tell them that donors, including Elvis and international donors do not transfer their money to the government’s pocket. They carry out whole related procedures how to spend their own money. EU has taken more time than us in conducting these procedures and it is only now it will start construction of the new schools. Turkey has taken over construction of the new neighbourhood in Laç and it manages funds itself after having picked the builder and after employing engineers and even Turkish workers. This is also the case with the Emirates. It was only today when we received the last message, telling that the final draft agreement will complete and be finalized next week. They will carry out the procedures themselves and the construction work through their own companies,” the Premier said, underlining that the entire process is being monitored by the government according to the agreed plan. Prime Minister praised all contributors for cooperating with the government. “Whoever doesn’t wish to understand us, they will be taught another lesson once entire Thumane is built,” Naçi said.

The construction site in Thumane covers an area of 12 ha and 37 426 square meters of road infrastructure. Projects also include 3456 m2 in construction of public buildings, schools, kindergarten, health care centre, community centre, as well as 46 148 m2 of public spaces, parks, sports grounds and 408 parking places.