The distribution of the government grants to the affected families in the municipalities of Vore and Tirana kicked off today with more than 1150 households, whose homes were partly damaged due to the devastating earthquake of Nov 26 last year, set to benefit full compensation to rebuild their houses. Prime Minister Edi Rama held a online videoconference with the Mayor of Vore Hekuran Brahimaj and the Mayor of Rrogozhine, Antonela Dedej, to discuss progress of this process and the overall reconstruction program in the two municipalities.

A total of 1159 families are eligible for direct payouts to fix their quake-damaged homes. “A total of 365 households will benefit compensation for slight damages, 329 other families are eligible for government grants for second-level damages and 113 others for third-level damages in Vora municipality. An estimated amount of 176,25 million lek will be transferred to the affected  families. An amount of 1,1 million dollars will also be paid to the affected families in Rrogozhine,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said.

The government estimates that the compensation grants would cost around 80 million dollars to fix the damaged houses in all areas hit by the earthquake last year. The support program includes 11 municipalities across the country. “The support fund is estimated worth 80 million dollars, which will definitely provide the affected families due funding to fix damages or receive compensation for the reconstruction work that many of them might have already carried out, because it is up to the government to stand by everyone and make sure nobody is left alone in this process,” the Premier said.

“We have determined two development areas in the municipality of Vore, with 480 homeowners living in collective apartment buildings and the rest is about private homes in rural areas,” Vora Mayor Brahimaj said. On her part, the Mayor of Rrogozhine informed that a total of 149 individual houses and three educational facilities will be built in the municipality she heads.

Prime Minister Rama voiced confidence that new construction sites will be launched soon as part of the post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction program, with the new house designed to bring a completely different quality of living compared to the one prior to the last year’s earthquake. “We will very soon start demolition process of the severely damaged apartment buildings in Tirana, Vore and we are very optimistic that construction sites will open in the fall and in the case of Vore municipality, just like it is the case of Thumane,  Kurbin, or Durres, everywhere where new residential neighbourhoods will be built, a completely new quality of life will be created, not only in terms of housing for each family, but also in terms of urban reorganization of these affected areas,” PM Rama concluded.