During the presentation of Reconstruction program, Ahmetaj said that “today it is 15 months from the devastating November 26, 2019 earthquake that hit Albania. One year after the donors’ conference, for Albania, and a little less than a year from the completion of reconstruction process, which is a promise we have made to the citizens and a word honored.”

“In spring of 2022 there will be no trace of earthquake in entire damaged territory in the 11 municipalities of the country,” he said, adding that “many people have a vivid memory of those painful images in the aftermath of the earthquake, when the search-rescue teams, the coordinated efforts of support were on the ground to save lives, accommodate families affected by the earthquake and make the assessment of damaged housing units and apartment buildings.”

“It was our commitment that no citizen should be left behind. Many people were skeptical about our initiative to move ahead with reconstruction process, somewhere rightly for it was a process that started from scratch in the legal, procedural, financial and, above all, human aspect,” – said Ahmetaj.

On the other hand, he said, the experience of other countries shows that reconstruction process after natural disasters has taken years on end.

We understand the impatience and anxiety of families that are still waiting for a new home one year after the devastating earthquake. “Secondly, we are not a rich country, but we have undertaken to build back every house destroyed by the earthquake for free.”

The Minister announced that “from 11 thousand families sheltered in tents in December 2019, today there are only 600. From 6400 families eligible for rent subsidy in 2019, today there are twice as many families eligible for rent subsidy. Over 70 thousand citizens, families and businesses have applied on the online platform, “my home” to benefit from reconstruction programs. ”

“Today over 27 thousand buildings have been assessed by Construction Institute. We have drafted 170 legal acts that regulate the reconstruction process that has set a new construction standard according to the Eurocode 8 criteria, earthquake resistance and quality assurance in construction, which guarantees adequate accommodation for families with access to services in public infrastructure, energy efficiency and fulfillment of all conditions,” he said.

According to him, reconstruction is active today in its 4 programs: housing units, apartment buildings, public infrastructure, reconstruction grants and education facilities.
Apartment buildings are under construction in Tirana, Durrës, Kurbin, Thumana, Lezha, Fushë-Kruja, Golem.

“Immediately after the earthquake, the joint team of the EC, the WB and the UN began work on the financial assessment of the damage that was finalized last year. With 1.1 billion euros in damage, of which more than half were houses and apartments and the rest education facilities, public infrastructure and the economy. The Donors’ Conference on 17 February in Brussels, organized by the EC in aid of Albania, mobilized an unprecedented solidarity raising 1.15 billion euros.”

He stressed that out of 1.15 billion euros, we received 295 million euros in grants and 815 million euros in loans from 50 participating countries. Today 100% of the grants promised at the Donors’ Conference have been disbursed.

“There are 300 million euros in projects and budget transfers, starting from June 2020 to January 2021 we have signed all grant agreements, of which 18 for 32 projects funded by donors and implemented by their Agencies. The Turkish government is working on construction in Kurbin, a spectacular project that includes 524 beneficiary families. The EU continues to build schools together with us, the Swiss government has supported families in Shijak and Kurbin with grants, etc.

/r.e/sm/