Families in Durrës left homeless after November 2019 earthquake receive keys to new apartments
135 families in Neighborhood 17 of Durrës, rendered homeless by the catastrophic earthquake of 26 November 2019, have been handed keys free of charge to new apartments built under the Reconstruction Program.
Context
The 2019 earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, claimed 51 lives and left over 3,000 injured. Thousands of families across Durrës, Laç, Shijak, Kavaja, Tirana, Lezha, and Mirdita found their homes uninhabitable due to severe structural damage caused by the tremors.
In response, the government initiated a Reconstruction Program utilizing funds from the state budget, as well as donations from the European Union, the Turkish government, the United Arab Emirates, and private donors. The program, which commenced in December 2019 has to date incurred total expenditures reaching 92 billion lekë or 920 million euros.
Whole neighborhoods with new residential complexes have sprung up in Laç, Durrës, Thumanë, and Tirana as part of this initiative, marking a great leap forward in restoring normalcy for those affected.
The initiative is not only meant to provide shelter but also to symbolize the communities’ resilience in the face of adversity. As efforts continue to rebuild homes and lives, the allocation of these apartments signifies hope and a fresh start for families who endured immense hardship in the wake of the earthquake.
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