TIRANA, July 22 – The United Nations World Food Program, the WFP, has begun providing cash assistance to close to 9,500 people affected by the floods in the country’s south earlier this year.
WFP said it responded to a request by Albania’s government to provide assistance for the most vulnerable families in badly hit communities, through cash transfers to help them to rebuild their lives.
According to official data, the February floods were Albania’s second worst floods on record — only a disaster in 1971 was worse.
The Albanian Red Cross covered immediate food requirements in the aftermath of the floods, but there is still a pressing need for food assistance. WFP is providing a cash injection to the most vulnerable families in flood-affected communities.
“The torrential rains forced people out of their homes and shattered the lives of many. WFP is striving to help them regain control and get back to normal life, through providing them with cash assistance,” said WFP’s Carl Paulsson. “WFP is using cutting-edge technology to respond to this emergency and adapt to the situation on the ground even in a country where we do not have permanent presence.”
Households in the five most-affected regions in Albania; Fier, Berat, Vlorë, Elbasan, Gjirokastër, will receive a three-month cash grant through personal cheques. Each person is entitled to $35 per month (4,340 Albanian Lek) totaling $105 per person (13,020 Albanian Lek). WFP plans to distribute three months’ entitlement in one distribution through the branches of Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania.
Beneficiaries were selected by local village committees established with participation of village elders, women and the poorest members of the community, the WFP said in a statement.
