A growing number of families are returning to their newly-built homes in the 11 municipalities, worst-hit by the devastating earthquake on November 26 last year. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of State for Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj, and Shijak Mayor Elton Arbana, today visited one of the 150 newly-built single family homes in the administrative unit of Maminas, Shijak municipality.

Mayor Arbana said that construction of all single-family homes in the municipal unit is set to complete by January 15, while Reconstruction Minister Ahmetaj stated that none of the families, which for various reasons have decided to live in makeshift tents, despite the government’s rental programme, will no longer live in tents, but will move into new homes within this month. “The number of quake-affected families still living in tents is constantly reducing. As many as 11 000 families used to live in tents and the number of these families just four weeks ago was 1234. It has further dropped to only 1058 and I am confident that once construction of the new houses here in Shijak completes, this number will fall to 1000 only. No family will live in tents by May. All the families that for their own reasons have decided to stay in tents have benefited rental bonus under the government’s rental programme,” Ahmetaj noted.

 

***

In the meantime, work to construct nine seven-storey residential buildings is also underway in Shijak. Their construction is scheduled to complete within six months and some 163 quake-affected families will be housed.

“Is the most welcome news for many residents in Shijak. The groundbreaking work for construction of the new residential buildings kicked off today. A total of 125 families were housed in the old apartment buildings previously, but some 163 families will be housed in the new ones,” Mayor Arbana said, adding that affected households will continue benefiting rental bonus until construction work completes.

The reconstruction site for the new “Lugina” residential complex will be launched on the third week of January. Mayor Arbana noted that the site preparation work has completed and work to construct the new neighbourhood will begin soon. Concurrently, work is also underway to build new water supply system in Shijak.