City Under Water

In recent days, heavy rainfall has hit various regions of the Balkans. The Albanian coastal city of Durrës has been especially hard hit. Water has flooded a total of 800 homes, affecting around 900 families.

The situation is grim in the Roma neighborhood of Nishtulla, where the daycare center we support is located. Here, 100 families from the immediate vicinity have been affected by the flooding. These are families who attend church and whose children are cared for in our daycare center. The water level in Nishtulla has reached 50 to 100 cm. Many houses are under water and all their contents have been destroyed. The situation in the Roma neighborhood is exascerbated because the dwellings here were already in poor condition.

Since the rains began, our team on site has been providing practical and spiritual assistance to affected families. The team is in close contact with the Durrës city administration and has opened the daycare center as a day center. People can come here and receive a warm meal. In addition, the children are cared for so that their parents can find accommodation. Some children whose homes have been flooded can be accommodated in a warm room near the day center. Since many households no longer have electricity or a functioning kitchen, the daycare center is cooking and currently providing warm meals to around 50 families in their homes. Our local partners are also providing emergency aid in the form of drinking water, blankets, warm clothing, and hygiene items.