World Vision to aid 5,000 flood-affected people in northern Albania

Rising water from the two hydroelectric power stations has flooded several villages in Shkodra, one hour northwest of the capital Tirana causing an estimated 66 million Euros in damage.

One of the causalities is the public water system which has been contaminated by sewerage. The rising number of dead cattle threatens to spread disease and infection.

I’m less worried about loss of possessions now and more concerned about my children; they are terrified of the water “Although lives may not be at great risk now, livelihoods definitely are and World Vision is committed to respond to the emergency in partnership with other NGOs to ensure that those affected can return to their normal lives,” said Jason Evans, World Vision Albania’s National Director as he declared the emergency a category1, level 1 response.

“I’m less worried about loss of possessions now and more concerned about my children; they are terrified of the water. The night time was hardest to deal with, my children were afraid of the rising water levels,” said a mother from Livade village, part of World Vision’s Shkodra Area Development Programme (ADP).

“I was obligated to send all three of my very young children to my parents, I was so afraid of the situation worsening overnight,” said Drita Likaj from Livade village.

The short-term relief response will also involve psychosocial and spiritual assistance, recreational activities for children and health checks Families in the Roma settlements in Shkodra town lost everything in the flooding, which almost claimed the life of a four-year-old girl.

“Thank God someone saw her, dragged her out of the water and did CPR, she would have died otherwise,” said her mother Zymrie.

As a first step, World Vision Albania is focusing on meeting the immediate needs of the families who are living in the military base. The short-term relief response will also involve psychosocial and spiritual assistance, recreational activities for children and health checks. World Vision is also working with local agencies to provide emergency sources of clean water to the affected families and will continue to monitor and assist with water supply issues during the recovery phase.

In the long term, World Vision will continue to support the families to return to normalcy, explore alternative education for children, as well as address their psychosocial needs. World Vision will also work with communities to raise awareness on the need for disaster preparedness as a preliminary step towards drafting a local preparedness plan.

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