Albanians in the north in serious condition after floods, await state assistance

The situation of Albanian residents at “Bosniaks' sector” in northern Mitrovica continues to be serious, even 20 days after the floods in this city. This neighbourhood is the most affected area by the floods in both municipalities of this town with about 100 damaged houses and businesses, 65 of which, according to the competent, is considered to be over half a million euros.

Most residents here say that they have lost everything they have created for years of hard work until they await the help of the State at these difficult times for them.

Halil Hakaj, resident of the Bosniaks' <x0nd neighbourhood” north of Mitrovica, whose house has been damaged by floods and is currently uninhabitable, tells Kosovo that all furniture, technical equipment and anything else has been forced to launch.

According to him, the water that has penetrated his home has reached nearly two metres high and destroyed everything, the KP reports, broadcasts Klankosova.tv.

Hakaj, who suffers from a spinal cord disease, says he has lost everything he has created and is now waiting for state assistance, otherwise his three - member family is unable to do anything.

All I've had is damaged on the first floor, so I'm stuck on the street, I don't know where to go, and I don't have anywhere to do... I don't know how to describe it, the damage is like when they're all burned up, they're no longer usable, and I have to shoot them all, refrigerators, holes, couches and don't mention the rest... We're three family members while we're standing where we can, whoever's accepting us because we know where to go... Except for the food they've got, but also the food they've eaten me because you've got room to sit down, to keep up, tossing, tossing, to fish and help that they're sharing, or the food we're getting, in vain, because laundry sauce, this is a disaster... All I've had is gone, and all my life I've been trying to, I've come to zero. I'm also sick of my back and I can't even work... We expect government assistance, we are just holding hope, otherwise I don't know what to do”, Hakaj says.

Even Avni Peci, another resident from this neighborhood, suggests that he lost everything he had, and his experience has also hit him emotionally.

We've been accommodated in the sister's apartment of 56 square meters 11 members... We're under psychic, physical, economic pressure, etc., even in communication with ordinary people we're a little bit aggressive... We lost everything we had... They brought us blankets, yurts, pillows, clothing, food, sanitation and so on, but the things that we've been offered we can't use because we're not in our homes, for example. Make a meal if you don't have the basics to cook that meal... We know that the executives do not have (North Mitrovica Community v.j.), so we pray to the government with regard to”, Peci points out.

Meanwhile, Nexhat Uglan, leader of the Municipal Assembly in northern Mitrovica, simultaneously chief of emergency staff in the north, considers the situation of the northern residents affected by the floods very serious.

It appeals to the Government of Kosovo to take concrete steps in order to help residents here as soon as possible.

The situation is too heavy for residents who have been affected by floods... So we appeal that as soon as the government takes concrete steps to help the population because it's very necessary... 65 houses are badly damaged, about 12 houses less (partially), and then we have only flooded basements, but there are businesses that we have on the basis of demands... 93 cases are a total of”, says Uglan.

On the other hand, Arrian Tahiri, deputy chairman of the South Mitrovica municipality, says that despite the plight of Albanian residents in the north, the South Mitrovica municipality because of procedures has not been able to help these residents institutionally.

However, he adds, part of the goodwill people who have expressed interest in helping the South Mitrovica municipality have been addressed to the families affected in the north.

According to him, the Kosovo government should respond with priority, especially for Albanians in the north, because it has direct competencies for support.

“We continue to be in touch with the locals, we know they are facing enormous difficulties... We institutionally, by means of the Communist budget we haven't had the opportunity to support them because of procedures, but people of goodwill who have expressed willingness to support the South Mitrovica municipality, some of them have been addressed to the families at the Bosnian Quarter... The situation (in the Bosnian Quarter) continues to be difficult, and we continue with them to raise voices even to the central level because I consider it to be a priority of support from the central level because they have the ability to create direct support, especially for Albanian residents who live in the northern part, respectively, at the Bosniaks' neighborhood, because on the basis of assessments and what I have personally seen on the ground, we talk about huge damage to the family economy, but also in the few Albanian businesses that are there,”, but it points to Tahiri.

Skenderaj, Mitrovica, Kline, Istog and Podujevo are considered the most affected municipalities by the rainfall of late January. Days ago, Finance Minister Hekuran Murati said they are awaiting reports from the municipalities before taking action to help those affected by the floods.