Support to Families of the Earthquake in Albania

Dear Supporter,

Arben is 9 years old.  He lives with his family of Mum, Dad and two siblings in a container in Vore, Albania.  Last time we met them they were living in a tent and winter had set in.  The children were frightened especially at night and when it rained and the walls of the tent would shake and become damp with the constant rain showers.

Through your donations, we were able to give Arben and his family some basic items of clothing so that each of them had a change of clothes and the wet and dirty ones could be washed and dried.  For Arben we gave him and his sister, Ana some colouring books and some coloured pencils and felt tip pens.  The smiles on their faces were evidence that these small gifts were a big surprise and a delight to the children.

On our next visit Arben readily showed us his completed and coloured drawings.  Arben particularly enjoys bright colours like red and green.

Other families and young children in Vore, like Arben’s are struggling to survive five months after the earthquake.  Some families continue to live in tents, some have been provided with a container as a home, and a few have found rented accommodation.  None of the shelters are permanent.   To access services families need to have access to an online government operated database; the majority of these families do not have ready access to this resource and without a registered address cannot request assistance.

What all the families require is basic staples like food, nappies for the youngest children, toys and means of occupying the children, clothes and medication for those who have chronic illnesses, like diabetes or hypertension.  With your support we can provide Arben and many others like him with some joy in a situation that goes on and on with little hope of a quick resolution. 

Thank you for supporting Arben and his family!