Construction of all single-family homes damaged by the devastating earthquake on November 26, 2019 has completed in the municipality of Shijak and as many as 567 affected families have already moved into their new homes.

The Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of State for Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj and Shijak Mayor Elton Arbana, handed over the keys to two remaining families entitled to benefit housing in the central Shijak town. 

“These are the two last dwellings whose construction completed most recently. In addition to construction of these 567 homes, a total of 252 affected families have withdrawn the government’s compensation grant to construct their homes by themselves. Construction of all single-family homes in Shijak municipality has completed. In the meantime, work to construct 30 residential buildings is underway in the town of Shijak, with their structural construction having progressed to the second and third floor and work is in full swing. A total of 1800 quake-affected families have received the grants to rebuild their DS1, DS2, and DS3-tagged houses. Whole reconstruction process has completed in the municipality of Shijak,” Arbana said.

The Premier congratulated the families on moving into their new homes and the benefiting family members thanked the government head and the Shijak Mayor for the work and their support during this difficult time.

Work is underway to construct the residential buildings in Shijak now and they are scheduled to complete by October. “Construction of all single-family homes has completed. This is also reflected in the number of people still living in makeshift tents from 11,000 to only 500 now. As many as 11,000 families lived in tents in January 2020, whereas only 500 quake-affected families still live in makeshift tents now. Construction of the apartment buildings in Thumane is progressing very well,” Reconstruction Minister Arben Ahmetaj said.