Government starts flood damage evaluation

TIRANA, Jan. 26 – The government decided to immediately start the evaluation of the damage caused by the recent flooding in northwestern Albania.
More than 11,000 hectares and 5,500 houses were flooded and more than 5,000 people evacuated from Shkodra and Lezha districts.
The Energy and Economy Minister Dritan Prifti order the creation of a 12-member working group to lead the evaluation process in the area. They will in turn create other groups to make each individual evaluation of the cost.
The government has said it will compensate for all the damage.
But it has also said that the power corporation should compensate the damage and the premier has often mentioned the fact that they could not cope with ‘God’s will’ pouring rain and snow in the area, that is, a major force for which authorities are not responsible.
The flooding was caused by heavy rain and warm weather along the Drini River basin which obliged the authorities to open the discharging doors of the three hydro power stations there in order to save them.
The opposition also accuses the government of mismanaging the water flow and level at the Drini River and also of corruption trying to profit from the sale of electricity in winter when its price is higher.
For a couple of weeks this month all top officials were in northern Shkodra managing the calamity in the area following the flooding.
Many people resisted efforts of evacuation fearing thefts.
The government also asked for international assistance which immediately was received.
The timing did not coincide well as bad weather covered the whole of the continent and then, there came the Haiti quake.
The moment was a good one to show the capabilities of a European government to cope with such a calamity, as well as the army and police capacities in emergency situations.
The flooding effects and impact will be there for a long time.
While there will be no problem concerning food and other items, one cannot say that for the agriculture business over there.
True, not many livestock were lost. But the government should focus now on securing the food for the livestock.
The Shkodra area has been a major source of agriculture products for the country, 10 percent production it was said.
The question is whether farmers will be capable of resuming their previous work with the agricultural land and livestock.
That will be a tough job to accomplish.