The 11-member Baruti family in the village of Maminas is one of hundred families in the Municipality of Shijak, Durres district, that have finally abandoned the tent they were temporarily housed in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake of Nov 26 and has moved into a rented house under the government-funded program until a new family home is built from scratch. During his visit to the beneficiary family of the rental bonus, Prime Minister Rama stated that reconstruction projects in the Municipality of Shijak are already ready and work is set to kick off soon so that all those who lost their homes individual homes due to earthquake will move into their new houses this year.

“Local authorities in Shijak Municipality have done exemplary work on all projects. Very good projects we be developed here. The bid for construction of new homes will open next Monday or Tuesday and the tender procedures will complete within a month and with the God’s help work to construct new homes will hopefully commence by May. Our pledge is to make sure that you all gather to celebrate the New Year’s Eve in your new houses,” PM Rama said, adding that new houses will be typically much better than the old ones and more solid ones as they offer 70-year structural warranty.

“The new houses will be built with steel. They will be seismic resistant structures that withstand much more powerful earthquakes that the one of Nov 26. The new homes will be typically more energy efficient than older houses and they offer a 70-year structural warranty,” the Premier said.

A total of 597 quake-affected families in the Municipality of Shijak are accommodated in rented hoses under the under the government-funded program.