Albania in flooding

TIRANA, Jan. 11 – Thousands of hectares and houses have been flooded in the Shkodra region.
Authorities were forced to discharge water from three hydro electric power stations after danger levels were reached.
Rain and melting snow have caused the worst floods in Albania in almost half a century, with some 2500 homes having to be evacuated
The EU and others have sent aid, but angry locals say help is taking time to get through.
The worst hit area is the Shkodra district, 120 kilometers north of the capital Tirana.
Albania faced a potential catastrophe after days of heavy rain which has left thousands of houses flooded in the region of Shkodra.
About 5,000 Shkodra residents have been evacuated from the flood area and some 10,400 hectares of agricultural land and 2,500 houses have been inundated. Thousands of livestock are also in danger.
Albanian authorities were obligated to open the gates of the hydro-central stations of Fierza, Koman and Vau i Dejes, which contributed to more flooding in Shkodra and several villages near the Adriatic Sea.
In response to the flooding, the Albanian military and other government structures have been activated to offer emergency relief in Shkodra including evacuation assistance and aid distribution.
Children and women were the first to be evacuated. Afraid to lose their possessions and belongings some of the villagers refused to leave their homes, but the authorities demanded that they evacuate because of the opened emergency gates of the Koman power plant.
Most of the families have one or two representatives who stay behind in the house, to protect their possessions.
According to Albanian experts, the situation was more serious than first perceived. If the authorities did not open the hydro-central gates the situation would have quickly escalated into a national catastrophe.
Local authorities are now cooperating with other countries and international institutions, organizations to get assistance and to decide on a strategy of intervention and support, especially for children and women.
Because of serious damages to the water supply system, many in the flooded communities don’t have access to drinking water. There are damages to agricultural and transport infrastructure, making the area around Shkodra only accessible by small boats.
Most of the evacuees are staying with relatives, and some are staying in hotels and student dormitories
made available for this purpose. Temporary shelter for about 4,000 persons is still available close to the
affected areas. Some refuse to be evacuated.
According to an Italian dam stability expert, the three hydro-power plant dams in the Drini River that held high water levels because of the snow melt and the rains, are stable and in good condition. A group of Italian experts will stay permanently with the Energy Ministry experts to check the Drini waters.
The European Union and Moldova have sent boats, electricity generators, water pumps, food, medicine, tents and other aid to the flood victims.
Albanian Defense Minister Arben Imami said that it is hard to predict how the situation will unfold.
“Several factors caused the flooding. First we had a lot of rain, and then the strange phenomenon of large waves in the Adriatic Sea. In the meantime, there was also serious snowfall followed by more rain,” he said.
The European Union Monitoring and Information Center assessment & coordination team has arrived.
A number of countries are providing in-kind assistance; UN is providing an emergency cash grant.
The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Another UNDAC member will be deployed to support the authorities in coordinating the international response.
A number of countries dispatched in kind assistance. Slovenia provided 13 mobile power generators;
Austria 8 mobile power generators, 5 water pumps; Italy 2 military transport helicopters (still in Italy due to bad weather); France 11 water pumps; and Greece 29 fire fighters, 4 vehicles, 2 rescue boats, 22 water pumps.
Armed forces, state police, fire-fighters and personnel from the Electric Energetic Corporate, the General Directorate of Roads and the Ministry of Health – more than 1,200 persons in total – are on the ground. These rescue workers are evacuating the affected population and their animals, providing food and health support, safeguarding property, and protecting embankments in order to minimize further flooding.
Two emergency operation centers have been established: one in the capital Tirana and one in Shkodra.