“Urban integration of informal settlements”

“Urban integration of informal settlements” Sukth Municipality. Albania Pilot Candidate

General description • Geographical position ; -Appendix to Tirana - Durres highway, -This area nearly 70% of national industrial production -Almost ½ of the Albania population live here • Former state farm -With 5902 families growing fruit ,vegetables ,wheat etc. -In 20 years time the population doubled, now 24.526 people -Total area 5069 ha. Land for construction 50,4 ha

Construction structure • What level construction. -Self declared ,1467 informal constructions -Nearly 40% of the families are of very low income , 35% of medium level and 25% of relatively higher. • Place of origin of the people: -Nearly 65% from northern part of Albania Dibra Tropoja Kukesi ,Mati etc. Natives nearly 20%, others 15% • Land conflicts. -Former owners and those favoured by law -The process of registration undergoing

Reasons why informal • People forced to move from poor remote places • The government could not respond to the housing demands. • The government failed to enforce law and order to stop the phenomena. • The government could not offer construction permision according to certain plans • People in a hurry to occupy a piece of land as considered without any private owner.

Prone to hazards • Flooding -A river (Erzeni) running close by; -Drainage system is out of function • Poorly constructed houses -Built without construction design project -Easily demolished ( earthquakes)

Municipality structure • There is an organizational structure of ten offices.Some of the main offices: -Territory managment office -Finance office, budget 1.5 mil. Euro/per year -Tax office; small income ; property tax very low -Informal settlement office -Legal office • Staff ,42 with very little training. • Offices poorly equipped

Infrastructure • Almost without a seweage sistem; only a part of it works normally • Main water supply pipe passing through, lack of secondary lines to the houses. • An asphalted road runs through , no pavement at all;muddy secondary streets • Chaos with the power supply; the secondary network broken. • Chaos in telephone lines.

Bussiness • Big bussiness -20 entrepreneurs, mainly agriculture production Leather processing, shoe factory • Small bussiness -Trade and service shops, total 233 • Main saurce of income -Most of the families engaged on agriculture production

Construction permission Problems • Land Ownership -Two or more owners for the same piece of land • Land destination change -Construction predominant on agriculture land • Insufficient planning capacity -Staff not with the right qualification -Lack of financial means -Absence of the necessary equipment

Education and Health service • Two Middle schools -Many students in a class • Three nine- year schools -One and the same road (without sidewalk)for people cars, trucks, buses etc • Three kindergardens -Poorly furnished • Five nursery centers -Hospitals in Durres or Tirana

Leisure time • No sports activities. • No playgrounds. • Only school activities • Watching Tv programs,. • Evenings, in bars and playing billiards

Some figures of low income • 220 persons classified work invalids • 227 families paid by legal medical commisions • 50 persons vulnerable • 40 persons total blind • 58 persons live on municipal social assistance

ALUIZNI • An office established • Two specialists employed • Files are being processed • No informatization • Willing to collaborate

Items to improve • Legal framework • Institutional collaboration • Local regional and central relationship • Staff qualification • Community awareness and responsibility • Proper urban plans

Closing words • Mayor’s words of wellcome: “Come to Sukth and enjoy our hospitability. We need a “pilot” to take off our plane and land it to “GTZ airport”.Give us that chance. Thank you”

“Urban integration of informal settlements”