Floods leave several municipalities without drinking water, the start of the second half of the year is postponed

Municipalities affected by the floods on Wednesday have faced reductions in drinking water. In order to enable the supply of citizens with drinking water, several water tankers have been deployed in various areas. The rainfall that has fallen since Tuesday has also caused traffic problems, for which the Kosovo Police has appealed to drivers to be careful. And the Ministry of Education has decided to postpone the start of the second semester until January 12

Heavy rainfall, which has caused flooding in several municipalities in Kosovo, has caused citizens of the affected areas to also face a lack of drinking water supply.

The landslide in the "Ibër-Lepenc" water canal in Zubin-Potok has caused disruptions, leaving municipalities supplied by the Regional Water Supply Company "Mitrovica" without water.

"Referring to the official announcement of the 'Ibër-Lepenc' enterprise, from which the 'Mitrovica' RWC JSC provides raw water, we inform you that landslides along the canal, raising the level of turbidity, have made it impossible to supply water suitable for treatment," the announcement of the 'Mitrovica' RWC said.

Problems in the "Ibër-Lepenc" canal have also left the cities supplied by the "Prishtina" RWC, namely the water plant in Shkabaj, without water. This company has also announced that the supply of drinking water is being carried out via trucks, in addition to Mitrovica, also in the municipalities of Drenas, Obiliq and Fushë-Kosovo Polje.

The National Institute of Public Health (IKSHPK) has also reacted to the quality of drinking water, stating that the water in some regions is not safe for drinking. The Institute has recommended that water be boiled before use or that alternative sources be used for a safe water supply.

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Postponement of the semester

As a result of the flooding situation, the start of the second semester in primary and secondary schools throughout Kosovo has been postponed to January 12, by decision of the Ministry of Education (MASTI).

And the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has warned that there is a possibility that the situation will worsen in the coming days.

"Risk assessment: There is a possibility of worsening of the situation in the event of new rainfall, however the current risk is assessed as manageable, with sufficient response capacities," the EMA announcement states.

The floods have also caused traffic problems, for which reason the Kosovo Police has appealed to drivers to be careful. According to the Police, traffic difficulties have been identified on various roads, including road damage, landslides and damage to certain bridges.

During the day, President Vjosa Osmani visited some of the areas affected by the floods, expressing support for the citizens from Gjakova and Malisheva.

"Of course, there are families who are affected by this situation, whose homes have been damaged. We will work together to overcome this and stand by them in dealing with this situation. Mayor Gjini informed us of all the measures that have been taken and also of the plans that will be drawn up continuously regarding the calculation and compensation of damages," Osmani emphasized during his visit to Gjakova.

Following the floods, the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, also reacted, stating that the situation is currently under control.

"Operational teams continue to be on the ground, monitoring the situation and remaining on full alert. Currently, the situation is under control today. Apart from material damage to infrastructure and private property, fortunately there are no cases of serious injuries," Kurti stressed.

As a result of the floods, the municipalities of Malisheva and Junik have declared a state of emergency, while in some municipalities there have also been power supply interruptions.

Major damage in the Gjakova district, 28 families forced to evacuate

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The rainfall that began on Monday evening caused the Erenik River to overflow its banks on Wednesday and penetrate several surrounding houses, causing extensive material damage and leaving 28 families homeless in Gjakova. 

Even though the rain stopped on Wednesday, the water has not receded from Salih Berisha's house in the village of Piskotë, Gjakova. The flow of the Erenik River penetrated the house again on Wednesday, leaving behind extensive material damage.

Berisha said that everything he had in his house was destroyed by the water, while he complained that so far no one from the municipality's officials has come out to take a closer look at the situation.
Alone, he said he has neither the financial nor the physical means to repair the damage.

"The water has entered our house, it has ruined everything, it has ruined everything. The cars, the refrigerators, everything, everything is ruined. I also had some goats, I have taken them away. It was terrible, terrible. There was no one from the municipality, not the mayor, not anyone. It was difficult at night, I don't even know where I am. What a terrible night," Berisha complained.

His neighbor, Artan Kuqishta, faced the same situation, and on Tuesday, firefighters had to intervene to evacuate his family members.

He said that the water has taken everything away and that this is not the first time he has faced flooding.

"We have been completely flooded, with food, drinks, everything, we have nothing, except these clothes on our bodies. I ask the municipality to come and make the river bed, because of the river we have this trouble. This is the fourth time I am experiencing these things. We have complained to the municipality and everywhere... the municipality told me why you bought this place, I told the municipality that when I have the opportunity, I will go and buy where it is better, but I have not had the opportunity," said the resident of the village of Piskotë.

He complained that he has nowhere to shelter his family and that he has not received any assistance from the Municipality.

His family is one of 28 people who have been forced to evacuate as a result of the floods, the commander of the fire brigade in Gjakova, Xhevat Ibrahimaj, announced.

Jeton Ibrahimi from Brekoc and his family have been accommodated in social housing provided by the Municipality of Gjakova. He is the twelfth person and has requested compensation for damages from the municipality.

"Apart from the clothes we saved, nothing else, nothing. Everything that was in the house of the slave, they're all gone, not a single thing was saved, really. The day before yesterday we stood in the rain, yesterday like that until we settled here. We expect the municipality to pay us for the damage that was caused to us, to fix that river too," he said.

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As of Wednesday afternoon, only three families from Brekoc have been accommodated in social housing in Gjakova.

"At the moment, these three families have come from the Brekoc neighborhood, a neighborhood with informal settlements that, due to circumstances, floods every year. There are three families with 33 members, a total of 21 children that we have managed to accommodate here in social housing spaces," said Dafina Kazazi, who is the acting director of health and social welfare in Gjakova.
The rainfall, which began on Monday evening, has caused the Drini i Bardhë River to overflow its banks, flooding many surrounding buildings and fields.