Albania appeals for long-term support and mitigation measures for thousands affected by floods

The funds will serve 10,250 families from 22 villages within the four World Vision Area Development Programmes (ADP’s) most severely affected by the flooding by improving the living conditions of these families over the next three months when the winter is most severe.

The funds will serve 10,250 families from 22 villages within the four World Vision Area Development Programmes World Vision has estimated a total of US$1,365,200 is needed urgently to support the Government of Albania in rehabilitating the devastated infrastructure of the country. State emergency services have been largely unable to cope with the damage and chaos resulting from the floods.

Five electric power stations have been flooded. Pylons and drainage systems have to be restored. Roads and bridges have to be repaired or rebuilt as transportation routes between cities across the country have been crippled by severe flood damage. In the arable areas, river banks need to be reinforced and canals have to be cleaned out.

More than 400 families in the Novosela commune, in Vlore ADP, were affected by the worst flooding in 50 years with damages amounting to US$88,000

“We responded rapidly to the emergency in Vlora by providing food aid, clothing, home facilities and school supplies for the 464 families affected in Novosela commune. But beside this, we aim for prevention measures that would provide a long lasting solution to the problems that caused flooding in World Vision Albania’s ADP’s”, says Nicholas Gummere, National Director for World Vision Albania.

we aim for prevention measures that would provide a long lasting solution to the problems that caused flooding in World Vision Albania’s ADP’s , “All this money would serve to implement a broader mitigation response to flooding in Albania because we do not know where the flooding is going to happen next year or even the next month”, says Gummere.

In the south of Albania, the city of Elbasan is hit by hailstorms almost every year. In 2004, they inflicted damage amounting to US$624,000. In 2005 the flooding and hailstorm damage amounted to US$955,000.

“For many years, our homes have been repeatedly affected by flooding from the Llixha stream. We are not even taking into account the flooding damage caused to our land plots where we are sowing every year and harvesting nothing, but we are afraid of our own homes being washed away. Preventative measures to control the waters of the hilly streams like this and to rehabilitate drainage canals would be a great help for all the village families. This might bring people back to their land plots again: as most of the families have abandoned the land” says Adil Kuqja, dweller of Shirgjan Village, Elbasan district.

For many years, our homes have been repeatedly affected by flooding from the Llixha stream Lezha, a city in the north of the country is also hit by severe flooding every year. Rivers frequently break their banks, leaving the surrounding land completely waterlogged.