Author: Aurora SHPATAJ
The residents of the city of Durrës were protesting a few days ago in front of the municipality due to not receiving the rent bonus of the families affected by the earthquake of November 26, 2019. According to the statements of the citizens, they had more than 4 months without receiving the rent bonus and this has led to wandering around rented apartments.
Meanwhile, on the eve of the 4th anniversary, from the earthquake of November 26, 2019, which brought colossal damage to the buildings of the residents of the cities of Durrës, Krujë, Shijak, Kurbin, Tirana, Kamëz, Vorë and Lezhë, but also to the balance of the people who were lost 51 people lost their lives and tens of people were injured, the reconstruction process has officially ended.
One of the municipalities that has encountered problems from the reconstruction process is that of Durrës. Although some of the buildings damaged by the November 26 earthquake have been rebuilt, the approval of all the buildings after their reconstruction has not been done.
Romina Morina, a resident of the city of Durrës, tells "Sinjalizo" about the long ordeal and the problems she encountered during the process of rebuilding the building where she lived with her family.
"For several years, I have lived in neighborhood no. 17, until the moment of the earthquake on November 26, 2019. The building suffered major damages and in the act, the in-depth expertise, carried out by the Institute of Construction, was classified as DS4 damage. "
For 1 year, Durrës Municipality removed the rent bonus from those affected by the earthquake
Romina says that her rent bonus was stopped by the municipality of Durrës in August 2022, even though the building where she lived had not yet completed the works, and as a result she did not feel safe to move in with her family in that apartment .
"From the moment the earthquake hit until today, I continue to live on rent. Since we were forced to change some apartments, we found them ourselves. We have been treated with a rental bonus until August 2022. After this month, the municipality stopped the bonus, with the justification that the firm that had the tender for the execution of the works had notified the municipality of the completion of the works. "
The resident says that even though the construction company had notified the municipality that the building was finished, this was not true, because the latter continued the works even after the notification.
"During this time, the firm continued working on the building with an extraordinary delay, and why they claimed to have completed the works, they placed notices on the doors of the building for works to be carried out on the terrace with specified dates, contradicting themselves and all the fictitious documents they make. I was notified by the firm and received the keys to the apartment on June 3, 2023, almost a year after the bonus was terminated."- says Romina, a resident of the city of Durrës.
Romina tells "Sinjalizo" that the municipality has never checked which residents have returned to the building in order to cut off their rent bonus.
"Everyone received a bonus, regardless of whether they lived on rent or in their own apartments. While they squandered funds without criteria, they decided to stop the bonus, without having the slightest interest in which families actually returned to their homes, which ones did not. Currently, I continue to rent, since I am in a legal process with the municipality and the relevant companies. "
She indicates that the building where she lived in the information she has, has not been approved. She even says that residents were allowed to stay in that building a week after the November 26 earthquake, thus endangering their lives.
"I have no official information. Until May, the works continued there. Approved or not, residents have been allowed to live in that building since the first week after the earthquake. Despite the catastrophe that could have occurred in the event of another earthquake”, Romina finishes telling.
The Municipality of Durrës told "Sinjalizo" that in the framework of the reconstruction process: 500 ds1-3 buildings were completed and approved, 94 buildings ds4 of which 6 were approved.
For the cost of rebuilding these buildings, the municipality indicates that the value is divided according to the level of damage to the housing.
"For facilities with damage level ds1-ds3, the value of all contracts concluded between the Durrës Municipality in the capacity of the Contracting Authority and the relevant entities is ALL 1,457,523,081 without VAT. For the objects with damage level ds4 and all the contracts signed so far between the Durrës Municipality in the capacity of the Contracting Authority and the relevant entities is 5,702,154,264 ALL without VAT. "
Asked by "Sinjalizo" if the rent bonus continues to be given to the affected families, the municipality answers that;
"Durrës Municipality in implementation of Normative Act no. 8 dated 07.12.2019 "On the use of the accelerated procedure for subsidizing the payment of apartment rent for families left homeless as a result of natural disasters, the earthquake of 26.11.2019" will to carry out in the following days the liquidation of the rental bonus subsidy for the families left homeless."
Problems also in Tirana Municipality
The same problem exists in the municipality of Tirana where the reconstructed buildings have not been approved. Fatmiri, a resident of the Yzberisht area, specifically in the so-called "Villa L" area, says that his building was damaged by the earthquake and after the reconstruction process, the building was repaired, but from communications with the construction company, the building was not approved.
"The building where I lived was damaged by the earthquake, on the ds3 scale if I'm not mistaken. It was then rebuilt by the construction company and was once again handed over to the municipality for approval, but as far as I have communicated with the administrator, the building has not been re-accredited after the works. When I asked the construction company for the reason, they told me that they are waiting for the experts from the municipality to come, who have not come so far.. "
Meanwhile, Fatmiri says that he entered the building even though the latter was not approved, because the rent bonus was stopped and he could not manage the expenses.
"I entered the building directly after the building was rebuilt because my rent bonus was cut off and I couldn't manage to pay the rent and buy things for my house that was destroyed by the earthquake. That's why I was forced to go inside, I hope that there will be no more such disasters. Now what can I say, let us be in God's hands."
"Sinjalizo" sent a request for information to the municipality of Tirana regarding this problem, but until the moment of publication of the article there is still no answer.
This article was created based on input provided by individuals who have chosen to speak up. Share your story, empower others and be an agent for change. Visit the website: www.acqj.al/sinjalizo-dhe-ti/
