The second phase to mitigate the consequences of the flooded areas will be followed by a third phase that includes the rehabilitation of damages. Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected today the point of reception and distribution of aid in Ura Vajgurore, together with the World Bank Director for Albania, Tahseen Sayed. The Prime Minister announced that the Albanian government, supported by international partners, will launch the phase for the recovery of damages.
“Today I am happy that the Director of the World Bank for Albania is accompanying us in this station. We have been communication with the WB, as well as with all other partners, since the first day. Actually, upon meeting the needs of the second phase, we enter the third phase in which funding of the government together with the funding of the WB and of other partners, who have been ready to assist us in this moment, will enable the replacement of the lost livestock, will assist those who have lost their production and will recover the major part of the productive infrastructure that got destroyed in the flooded areas.
As a responsible government and society, we will manage to come out his crisis stronger than we were before the crisis occurred in front of us, because of the fierceness of the weather”- the Prime Minister said.
World Bank Director Sayed assured that the WB will support Albania to address the consequences of this catastrophe. “On behalf of the World Bank, I am happy to join the Prime Minister and the team, to see how efforts to alleviate the situation in Berat are progressing. The World Bank supports Albania very much and the needs of people who suffer the consequences of flooding. After the emergency phase is over, reconstruction will be needed, particularly in the irrigation canals, roads and other infrastructure. We are working with the Government to assess needs and to work together with other international partners to provide the necessary support after this catastrophe, “- director of WB for Albania said.
Meanwhile, the mechanism of aid distribution in each family is functioning normally also in Ura Vajgurore, in the district of Berat. Contributions are coming from business and citizens who provide food, fodder for livestock and home accessories. One of the leading officials of the Emergency Headquarters said that the distribution of aid is being made according to the needs of each family, based on the inspection door to door. “Municipality Verification Group has gone to every house and has checked every household furnishing that is missing or that has been damaged and any need residents had in food and household furniture has been met.”
Every supply entering the reception point is recorded, and the distribution also is made according to a register where every family receiving aid is recorded based on the amount, type of assistance, with the respective signature. “The committee for aids established in the municipality – another staff representative explained – makes a preliminary list for every firm that offers to help, as there is a specific list of demands from damaged citizens. They submit their identity card, sign and receive relevant assistance from employees. Everything is transparent.”
In addition, Emergency staff representatives informed that besides providing food, effort is focused on the replacement of appliances and other damaged equipment. “Today, 8 businesses made donations to flooded families in Berat. Although every family has received 80 kg of food so far, we have brought a number of food packages. We have also brought electrical appliances and other devices such as mattresses, sheets and quilts and everything necessary for families to return to their normal lives.”
President of the Association “Business Albania” Lion Bregasi said that business is directing aid according to the specific requirements of residents. “Apart from food aid, we are providing home appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machine, stove, beds, mattresses and blankets. Business has oriented aid according to the specific requests of residents, whether in Novosele, Frakull or in Ura Vajgurore. We will enter every home”- Bregasi said.
The World Headquarters of Bektashi was one of the today’s contributors. Its leader, Baba Edmond Brahimaj said that the Headquarters stand by the side of the affected households of Ura Vajgurore, by providing food and home appliances.
Prime Minister Rama observed that in Ura Vajgurore as well, the aid distribution mechanism proves the efficiency of the new model to assist where necessary. “Together with the sun, I saw today many smiling faces and this is a beautiful moment, because we have basically arranged in an exemplary manner the mechanism. This mechanism of coordinated assistance is functioning quite normally, making possible that every family affected by flooding receive direct assistance, ending the era when everybody would gather in a truck which nobody knew where it came from, nobody knew who it gave aid and nobody knew how much it left or took away”- the Prime Minister said.
Students of 60 schools of the district of Berat were part of the solidarity network. To them the Prime Minister Rama addressed a special greeting: “Today, a special recognition goes to this collection of aid from all schools of Berat. I am very grateful and I want to show my admiration to the Director of Education Department of Berat, Salman Hodaj, to teachers, school principals, parents and all children who have provided a fantastic example of human, Albanian and citizen solidarity in these conditions. In doing so, I believe they have become a model for everyone else what to the same, altogether as much as we can, when others near us are hit by a disaster.”
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The Prime Minister Rama stopped by a dozens of houses affected by floods in two districts of Ura Vajgurore. Even here, the Prime Minister’s interest was whether supply was going where it should. He personally asked the families about the aid they had received, especially the replacement of damaged appliances with new ones. “We have also received beds, refrigerator, everything” – one woman living in Dafinat street said. “We’ve got washing machine, refrigerator. See?”- another resident in the neighborhood said, while showing the appliances.
Another resident said that after the flooding of 2010 he had to replace everything by himself. “Thank you, because in 2010 we did not get anything. We paid everything by ourselves.”- he confessed.
The Prime Minister returned to the house he had visited the days before the flood. “I kept my promise. Have you received every supply?”- the Prime Minister asked to the head of the family. “You kept it and we thank everybody, the staff, the municipality, everyone” – the head of the family replied. Jokingly, the Prime Minister added: “We can manage everything, except for the rain and the sun.”
Showing the new equipment, another resident thanked for the support received from the government and local authorities. “We trust you”.
The Prime Minister noted that improving conditions of the housekeepers comes first. “We will be up to your trust, we will do everything, not just today because of the bad weather, but at any time and above all want to give the opportunity to all women who are at home to replace their equipment.”- the Prime Minister told the woman.
