In Spitalë i Durrës, the new neighborhood built for families affected by the 2019 earthquake is not yet ready for occupancy. Although the 85 buildings built offer a total of 996 apartments, many residents continue to live in rentals, waiting for the promise of new housing to become a reality. The project, funded by the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates and the Albanian Government, aims to house around 4,000 citizens, but for many families this remains an unrealized hope.
Bashkim Gjika, one of the most active voices for the rights of those affected by the earthquake, describes the situation with a mixture of hope and disappointment:
"I came to see the house. We are on the streets. We don't have money to pay the rent where we are... The buildings are good, but there is no water, no electricity. There are no keys, they give out 10 keys a day."
Similar concerns are expressed by other residents, who have experienced years of insecurity and lack of support.
"We have suffered enough. We haven't even received a bonus for three years, nothing. Thank goodness we got the keys. We want to live like everyone else," says another resident.
Gjika also highlights the problems in the surrounding areas, the lack of lights and water, and the unusual situation he sees every time he visits the neighborhood:
“See the spiders everywhere. We sleep on the streets, the buildings sit empty. Funds are approved, the money is taken and lost on the way.”
The Municipality of Durrës reports that the distribution of keys is continuing, and so far they have been given to over 400 families, who will then follow the procedures for individual contracts with OSHEE and Water and Sewerage. However, those who are still waiting are asking for the process to be accelerated. For many families, housing is no longer a promise, but a delayed right.
