Ndroq is one of the worst-hit areas.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj and the Minister of Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj, attended the handover ceremony, where the house keys were distributed to local quake-affected families.

“You are the owners of these new properties as you are all granted the due ownership certificates. As such you can rent, put them up for sale or inherit just like any other legitimate property owner. These safer, stronger and beautiful houses will provide a fresh start to the families in their happier lives,” PM Rama said in his remarks.

The government head also commented on some of the obstacles the post-earthquake reconstruction programme has encountered, citing rulings made by certain judges.

“If we still encounter delays with the reconstruction process this is because of the mishmash triggered by those serving in justice system previously and the hodgepodge with land and property ownership rights caused by judges and prosecutors who take whole communities hostage, just like a judge has done by blocking the work on construction of the remaining apartments in the town of Laç. This is the system with judges having their last say. The reconstruction process has progressed in tandem with a process of falsifications and complaints by totally corrupt judges, who are well aware of the fact that they will fail in the vetting process. However, we will not stop until the last quake-affected family moves into a new house,” PM Rama stated.

Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, also Minister of State for Reconstruction and Reforms Programme, noted that the government turned the natural disaster into a unique process that may inspire future housing programs in the country, namely the housing programme for the newly-married couples starting next year.

Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj said that “we haven’t built new homes only, but whole communities for hundreds of quake-affected families to have a fresh start and happier lives.”

A total of 74 single-family homes have been built in the new residential neighborhood in the administrative unit of Ndroq. The new complex also features related public and civil infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, parking places for local residents, water supply system and green spaces. A new health care centre and a kindergarten are set to open their doors in the coming few months.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the ceremony to present the quake-affected families with their new homes built under the ongoing post-earthquake reconstruction programme in the country.

“First residential complex submitted to families that lost their homes in the earthquake on November 26 two years ago in Vaqarr. The Reconstruction Programme is turning the earthquake challenge from a disaster into an opportunity for transformation of the worst-hit areas. I would like to express gratitude to Arber and the Different Week Foundation that joined us and demonstrated solidarity with the affected families,” Rama said.

The new residential neighbourhood in Vaqarr for the quake-affected families was built through the joint contribution of the Albanian government that funded construction of civil infrastructure, the community centre, the new school, and the administrative unit building, and the Different Week Foundation that invested donations granted by citizens by construction 20 new housing units for the quake-affected families.

Rama said he was pleased “to see the new phase of handing over the housing unit to the beneficiaries starting in the village of Vaqarr, a small but very significant residential complex built with dedication and maximum quality.

The government head stated that the ongoing reconstruction effort is actually significantly improving the lives of around 33,000 across the country.

“A total of 33,000 families residing in the whole area hit by the devastating earthquake two years ago have either lost their dwellings or their homes have sustained serious structural damages. Thanks to this huge effort they will now live in much better housing conditions in the new residential complex rather than in the apartment buildings they used to live prior to the earthquake. These new housing units have been built with high energy efficiency standards that significantly reduce the electricity consumption,” he noted.

The government head also underlined that more than thousands of affected families have already moved into the newly reconstructed single-family homes, with 500 of them in the municipality of Tirana alone, while thousands more families have also moved into their reconstructed apartments and work is in full swing to construct the residential complexes in all affected areas.

“Many more families will soon move into the new single-family homes in Ndroq, Zall Herr area, as well as in the new residential complex in May 5 neighbourhood, which is set to become a role model in terms of urban infrastructure in Tirana as everything is being built from scratch,” he added.

The government head noted that no family has been forced to leave their homes and none of them has been neglected or abandoned, as everyone has been granted the rental bonus until new homes are built for them.

Tirana Municipality has constructed entire infrastructure of the new residential complex.

Public transport will be made available to the residents in the new neighbourhood, just 1.5 km from Kombinat, as well as other facilities for children and adults living there.

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