Dukagjin isolated by snow
10/02/2012 00:00
The Washington Agreement Must Be Reactivated! 06/01 19:04
The three Dukagjin communes, Pult, Shosh and Shal, with around 8000
residents, have been isolated for weeks by the snow and have become the
most problematic areas in Northern Albania, with two victims that died
from the cold.
The roads are blocked by the snow and ice. Driving to Dukagjin is a dangerous adventure, and it is even more difficult to walk on foot, for meeting the isolated residents. The house of Ndok Mirashi, father of seven, the cold and poverty prevail in every corner. He says that the only food they have is boiled corn. the 20 year old son of the house, far from the dreams of his peers, demands only bread for his meals.
A 68-year-old woman died in this village, five days ago, and her body stayed unburied for two days, until it was sent to Shkoder. Dukagjin is lacking of food, medicine, doctors, electricity and telephone. Even the helicopters were unable to go there for some days. Some family members have walked in the snow, for hours, to secure food for their family.
Everything looks frozen in Dukagjin, except for the smoke that comes out of the chimney, which makes you understand that there are people inside. The residents are experiencing their most difficult days, without being able to find food and with the victims that cannot be buried due to the thick snow.
Bulqize, 48 families without food
The Emergency Headquarters in Bulqize has listed at least 48 families that have an extreme need of food, since winter has caught them unprepared.
The merchants of the area cannot get supplies, due to the snow. The Emergency Headquarter is asking vehicles for cleaning the roads.
Another difficult situation is for the 12 families whose houses are in danger of being destroyed by landslides, and they must be evacuated.
Winter, unaffordable due to poverty
The family of Muharrem Durici lives in Fushe-Bulqize, one of the poorest areas in Albanai, although not far from the chrome mines.
This winter has found them in extreme poverty, without being able to secure even bread. Mrs. Durici shows the sack of flour that is almost finished, while they have taken a lot of products at the local shop, without paying and by listing them in the tab.
The head of the family, Muharrem Durici, is unable to help is family, because he is paralyzed. The oldest daughter says that even the house is almost falling to pieces, while winter is becoming unbearable.
Bulqize and the surrounding areas have many families like this. Poverty and winter have made their living almost impossible.
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