2010 Albania floods
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Albania Floods refer to several periods of major flooding, notably January, 2010 and December, 2010. Many northern regions around Shkodra, Lezhe
and Durres
are currently submerged and aid efforts are ongoing.
and Lezhë
were inundated as a result of increased rainfall and higher temperatures in Albania
. Flooding nearly 2,500 houses and evacuating more than 5,300 residents (as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), the flood has led to sustained damage in the nearby water supply, roads, bridges, and more than 10500 hectares (25,946 acre) of agrarian land. Approximately 6,000 individuals in flood-infested areas refused to abandon residences and livestock, forcing the government to take action by enforcing evacuation. The Albanian government
has also called for international assistance – initiating aid from organizations such as UNICEF, OCHA
, and UNDP
. Additional rainfall and snow continues to make water levels rise, which can be extrapolated to rise through the spring season.
, Lezhë
and Durrës
were inundated as a result of increased rainfall and higher temperatures in Albania
. Deforestation
in the region is also considered a primary cause for the increased amount of groundwater in the lowlands.
flow has been rapidly raising which has augmented the water level in three hydroelectric power lakes as reported by the DREF operation (International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund). Authorities were forced to release water from these lakes increasing the flooding situation in the Shkodër and Lezhë areas. Some initiatives have been put into place to help this situation such as the Red Cross Society of Albania, which plans on assisting 2,200 families with necessary basic food items lasting for three months.
The affected areas are parts of North western Albania with one primary hit zone being Shkodër, 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) away from the capital Tirana
– located right beneath the three hydroelectric power lakes of Fierzë, Koman and Vau i Dejës. After being forced to release water from the dikes, the water flow grew to 2450 m3/s while the maximum capacity is only 800 m3/s.
The Albanian government declared it a "natural disaster" on 5 January 2010 when the flooding displaced thousands of people. The Shkodër District
reached a critical situation as the water level on main roads entering into the region reached one meter and reached two meters inside the village of Berdices. The overflow of water alienated the city from national road access and cut communication with the town.
The Albanian government has used the army and police forces to help remove residents using boats and military vehicles. The Emergency Commission at Shkodër on 8 January 2010 reported an increase in the number of evacuations to 3,572 persons with 98% being accommodated by relatives. The government claimed that another 16,000 – 20,000 individuals need to be evacuated as more bad weather was predicted for the future.
), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) have supported affected families with grants for food and other basic needs.
According to The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC), an organization that presents disaster requests and updates, Albania officially requested for assistance on 7 January 2010. The country requested for transportation boats for shallow water, transport helicopters, high capacity water pumps, mobile power generators, fuel, food, and medicine on 7 January 2010. Later reports throughout the month of January that reveal where donations have came from and the quantity of each. .In efforts to control future damage, British engineers advised the Albanian Government to control its North West rivers' flow by dredging out the silt and other contaminants due to the flood.
In addition to major organizational relief, around 1,200 individuals from the army, police, fire fighters and other state departments were deployed to assist the evacuation of people and their animals and provide health support, land protection, and to protect dams to reduce further flooding.
municipality, Dajç
, Ana Malit, Bërdicë
, Gur i Zi
, Bushat
, Velipojë
, and Qendër. The preliminary casualties in these regions reflect 9150 hectares (22,610.1 acre) of land flooded, 3,572 people evacuated from their homes, and 2,200 houses damaged by flooding. The Albanian government originally reported on 7 January that in the upcoming days, 3,000–3,500 additional families will have to be evacuated. The majority of displaced families were sheltered in student dormitories provided by the government. The other families, however, were sheltered by relatives and friends.
Preliminary assessments of damage conducted by the Albania Red Cross revealed multiple damages to households and farmland including houses, home equipment and furniture, winter reserves of corn and vegetables, livestock and livestock food, and corn plants.
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
and Durres
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
are currently submerged and aid efforts are ongoing.
January 2010
On January 11th, 2010, the Northwestern regions of ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
and Lezhë
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
were inundated as a result of increased rainfall and higher temperatures in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Flooding nearly 2,500 houses and evacuating more than 5,300 residents (as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), the flood has led to sustained damage in the nearby water supply, roads, bridges, and more than 10500 hectares (25,946 acre) of agrarian land. Approximately 6,000 individuals in flood-infested areas refused to abandon residences and livestock, forcing the government to take action by enforcing evacuation. The Albanian government
Politics of Albania
Politics of Albania takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament, the Assembly of the Republic of Albania...
has also called for international assistance – initiating aid from organizations such as UNICEF, OCHA
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , is a United Nations body formed in December 1991 by General Assembly Resolution 46/182...
, and UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
. Additional rainfall and snow continues to make water levels rise, which can be extrapolated to rise through the spring season.
December 2009
On December 3rd, 2009, the Northwestern regions of ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, Lezhë
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
and Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
were inundated as a result of increased rainfall and higher temperatures in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
in the region is also considered a primary cause for the increased amount of groundwater in the lowlands.
Detailed information
As a result of this increasing rainfall, the Drin riverDrin River
The Drin is the longest river in Albania with a total length of . It has two distributaries, one going directly into the Adriatic Sea, the other one into the Bojana River .- Origin :...
flow has been rapidly raising which has augmented the water level in three hydroelectric power lakes as reported by the DREF operation (International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund). Authorities were forced to release water from these lakes increasing the flooding situation in the Shkodër and Lezhë areas. Some initiatives have been put into place to help this situation such as the Red Cross Society of Albania, which plans on assisting 2,200 families with necessary basic food items lasting for three months.
The affected areas are parts of North western Albania with one primary hit zone being Shkodër, 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) away from the capital Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
– located right beneath the three hydroelectric power lakes of Fierzë, Koman and Vau i Dejës. After being forced to release water from the dikes, the water flow grew to 2450 m3/s while the maximum capacity is only 800 m3/s.
The Albanian government declared it a "natural disaster" on 5 January 2010 when the flooding displaced thousands of people. The Shkodër District
Shkodër District
The District of Shkodër is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Shkodër County. It has a population of 185,646 , and an area of 1,973 km². It is in the north of the country, and its capital is Shkodër...
reached a critical situation as the water level on main roads entering into the region reached one meter and reached two meters inside the village of Berdices. The overflow of water alienated the city from national road access and cut communication with the town.
The Albanian government has used the army and police forces to help remove residents using boats and military vehicles. The Emergency Commission at Shkodër on 8 January 2010 reported an increase in the number of evacuations to 3,572 persons with 98% being accommodated by relatives. The government claimed that another 16,000 – 20,000 individuals need to be evacuated as more bad weather was predicted for the future.
Aid
As an immediate relief, the Albanian government declared a "state of civil emergency" and founded an Inter-ministerial Committee. Organizations outside of the state such as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHAOcha
Ocha is a genus of moth in the family Lasiocampidae....
), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) have supported affected families with grants for food and other basic needs.
According to The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC), an organization that presents disaster requests and updates, Albania officially requested for assistance on 7 January 2010. The country requested for transportation boats for shallow water, transport helicopters, high capacity water pumps, mobile power generators, fuel, food, and medicine on 7 January 2010. Later reports throughout the month of January that reveal where donations have came from and the quantity of each. .In efforts to control future damage, British engineers advised the Albanian Government to control its North West rivers' flow by dredging out the silt and other contaminants due to the flood.
In addition to major organizational relief, around 1,200 individuals from the army, police, fire fighters and other state departments were deployed to assist the evacuation of people and their animals and provide health support, land protection, and to protect dams to reduce further flooding.
Casualties
According the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Studies, there were eight main regions that were effected including the ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
municipality, Dajç
Dajç, Lezhë
Dajç is a municipality in the Lezhë District, Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. Dajç is located in the midspan between the city of Lezhë to the south and Shkodër to the north, from each. It has an agricultural-based economy, with many producing fields, but in need of better mechanics and...
, Ana Malit, Bërdicë
Bërdicë
Bërdicë is a municipality in the Shkodër District, Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. There are 6 settlements within Bërdicë.- Settlements :* Beltojë* Bërdicë e Madhe* Bërdicë e Mesme* Bërdicë e Sipërme* Mali Hebe* Trush...
, Gur i Zi
Gur i Zi
Guri i Zi is a municipality in the Shkodër District, Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. There are 11 settlements within Guri i Zi.- Settlements :* Gajtan* Ganjollë* Guri i Zi* Juban* Kuç* Mazrek* Rragam* Rrenc* Sheldi* Vukatanë...
, Bushat
Bushat
Bushat is a municipality in the Shkodër District, Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. There are 14 settlements within Bushat.- Settlements :* Ashtë* Barbullush* Bushat* Fshat i Ri* Hotnej* Konaj* Kosmaç* Kukël* Mali i Jushit* Melgushë* Plezhë...
, Velipojë
Velipojë
Velipojë, also called Velipoja, is an Albanian town in Shkodër District. The population is approximately 8026 people.- Geography and economy :...
, and Qendër. The preliminary casualties in these regions reflect 9150 hectares (22,610.1 acre) of land flooded, 3,572 people evacuated from their homes, and 2,200 houses damaged by flooding. The Albanian government originally reported on 7 January that in the upcoming days, 3,000–3,500 additional families will have to be evacuated. The majority of displaced families were sheltered in student dormitories provided by the government. The other families, however, were sheltered by relatives and friends.
Preliminary assessments of damage conducted by the Albania Red Cross revealed multiple damages to households and farmland including houses, home equipment and furniture, winter reserves of corn and vegetables, livestock and livestock food, and corn plants.