TIRANA / Because of defects in the pipes, sewage flows from the taps Repairs begin, but the alarm remains TIRANA — Alarm over the contamination of drinking water. Dozens of residents, mostly children, have been poisoned, and one citizen has been urgently admitted to hospital: these are the consequences of this worrying phenomenon, which has been affecting the city of Tirana for several days. The now-familiar water shortage has been accompanied by its contamination. About 1,500 residents of Qemal Stafa Street were affected by this problem. It is all connected to a burst water-main pipe, whose water mixed with sewage. Apart from 2–3 cases confirmed in small areas in previous weeks, this is the most serious incident in Tirana this year. The first signs appeared in a few households and then affected an entire group of apartment buildings. “At first,” Limani, a housewife who lives in the area, told our Gazette, “we thought we should boil the water before drinking it. It was cloudy, almost yellow in color, and it left deposits on the sides of the dishes.” A few days later, various kinds of debris began appearing as well. “It was impossible to stay in our homes,” Vladimir Kondi says. “As soon as the tap was turned on, foul odors filled the entire surrounding area.” The situation worsened when the first signs of widespread infection began to appear. Residents suffered severe stomach pains and persistent diarrhea. For children, it was even worse. A man, Fuat Memeli, lost consciousness in his home and was taken to hospital at midnight, where he was immediately admitted to intensive care. After the Water Supply Directorate was notified and initial laboratory tests were carried out, the water supply to homes throughout the area was shut off. Water began arriving by tanker. For residents, especially those on the upper floors, who were already used to collecting water in bottles and various buckets, this did not present any serious problem. The important thing was to have clean water to drink. Suddenly, one day the water tanker failed to appear, and residents resumed their search. The situation had not changed at all. Workers from the Water Supply Enterprise have been working for more than two weeks. It is still not known when they will finish. Meanwhile, another incident has occurred: although the tests from the Hygiene and Epidemiology laboratory are still negative, some people have begun using tap water. “It is not our fault,” Astrit Hana, Director of the Water Supply Directorate, told the Gazette. “We are dealing with old sewer pipes, almost worn out and built in violation of technical standards.” In fact, drinking-water pipes run parallel to sewage pipes. When there is not an abundant water supply, what is called “siphoning” occurs; in other words, the vacuum that forms causes foreign matter to be sucked into the pipe. This is a problem that will once again remain entirely unresolved. A regular water supply would partly eliminate it. The most important thing is the complete renovation of a network that is already worn out. A solution to the problem of regular water supply is hoped for from the Bovilla reservoir, whose construction work is due to begin soon. These days, the winner of the competition organized among various companies for the restructuring of Tirana’s internal network is expected to be announced. In the meantime, we hope the faults will be fixed as soon as possible and drinking water will be restored to households.

After two executions in Tirana, another death sentence BULQIZË — Another death sentence in Albania. Premtim Tole, 23, has been sentenced to execution by firing squad by the Bulqizë District Court. The court panel established that the defendant committed intentional murder for trivial motives. Tole will thus be — if the First Instance ruling is upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation — the second victim in his family within a few months. In May of this year, the head of the family — also the father of the man sentenced to death — was killed by his son. A member of the Tole family attended the October 7 trial, but not as a witness, as usually happens in such cases. Premtim Tole’s mother was also sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for failing to report the crime her son had committed against her husband. The defendant Tole is now awaiting execution in the prison in the town of Peshkopi. The story of the destruction of the Tole family began five months ago. That was when Premtim Tole committed another crime: having sexual relations with his sister-in-law, his brother’s wife. It was precisely after this that the monstrous crimes began. Premtim’s father reacted to the extent that his son also contemplated the other crime: murdering his father. It was a gruesome murder—as Abaz Dede, the head of the court panel, also established. After killing his father, Premtim Tole burned his body completely to destroy the evidence and later hid it in a tunnel. After five months in custody by the Bulqizë Public Order Department, the court of this district has not the slightest doubt. And it has ordered his execution by firing squad. A few days ago, the announcement [?] of the execution of two convicts in Tirana caused particular reactions. They too had been sentenced for the same crime: intentional murder. Although opinions on capital punishment remain divided in Albania, Tole—the latest person sentenced to death—is joined by 20 other people awaiting execution. Albanian justice continues to kill those who have killed. The two brothers hanged in the square, in an archival photo

TIRANA — The Nano affair is back in the spotlight. The Tirana District Court — through its spokesperson — clarified the day before yesterday that the first proceedings against Fatos Nano were fully in accordance with the law. The Albanian official news agency reported the clarification: “prompted by certain incorrect or even malicious interpretations made by some press outlets.” At this hearing, the Tirana Court rejected Nano’s appeal to have the detention order lifted. He was accused and sent to prison two months ago for misappropriating Italian aid.

KOPLIK — Another failed attempt at smuggling and breaching the embargo against Montenegro. This time the Financial Police seized not cigarettes or fuel, but 927 kilograms of washing powder. The smugglers had come close to succeeding. The powder had been taken to the shore of Lake Shkodër by traders who have not yet been identified. From there, it was to be transported across the border in boats by local villagers. Thus another item has been added to the list of goods targeted for smuggling in the Veja e Vrakës–Hani i Hotit area.

6 servicemen from the unit arrested TIRANA — (p. re.) — Weapons have been stolen again. Five submachine guns have disappeared from an arms depot belonging to the Seventh Division. No trace was found in the tunnel where the depot was located. A few days ago, at around 4 a.m., the two soldiers on guard noticed that the iron door of one of the tunnels was open. They immediately sounded the alarm, firing bursts into the air. Rapid-response forces arrived at the scene at once. But it was too late. No one was found in the tunnel. The gate’s lock had been broken and the wire mesh had been torn. Even more astonishing was the fact that, despite the rainy night, not a single muddy footprint was found inside the depot. Only five missing submachine guns and two open internal security doors were found. The storekeeper, Amulla Reshka, who was detained immediately, had forgotten to lock [it]. Along with him, the two guards, both from Tirana, and a non-commissioned officer on guard duty were also arrested. A few days later, the police detained two more soldiers. It is not yet known whether the inspection continued in order to establish the full state of the arms depot.

INSIDE Eleven undocumented migrants rescued from drowning On the brink of tragedy in the waters of Otranto

Readers will receive free today the new panorama of the city as it is today, in which everything is explained, together with Gazeta Shqiptare. Today’s panorama is a reproduction of an old photograph of Brindisi.

TIRANA — (br. ca.) What can be done to avoid poisoning from contaminated water? Here are some useful tips for the circumstances of Albanian households: First, young children should avoid drinking running tap water as much as possible. Although they consume little water, bottled mineral water can be used for them. A locally produced bottle of this water costs 50 lekë. Second, when the water appears contaminated, it is advisable to boil it for at least ten minutes; at the end of this process, once the water has cooled, a few drops of lemon can be added. Third, chlorinating the water or using other chemicals to sterilize it is not recommended in household conditions. Otherwise, owing to a lack of experience and the necessary training, unforeseen things may happen. It is also good to know the symptoms of poisoning from contaminated water, so that action can be taken immediately. A sick person has these symptoms: high fever, diarrhea and nausea.

AID FROM ENGLAND FOR GJIROKASTËR — Around 120,000 dollars’ worth of aid from the English island of Jersey has arrived for the city of Gjirokastër. This aid, collected by the residents and local government of Jersey, will go to the teacher-training school and the hospital in Gjirokastër. Meanwhile, a group of 14 people, specialists, have begun work at the city’s secondary school. “GERMANY FOR AN AUTONOMOUS KOSOVO” — “Kosovo must have the autonomous status it had in 1974 restored.” This was the statement made by German MP Peter Rosenbah at a press conference held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. Rosenbah once again confirmed the support Germany will give Albania in both the economic and political fields. YOUNG PEOPLE’S CRIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN TIRANA — Crime among young Albanians is on the rise. This was the finding presented by participants at a seminar organized by the Albanian Youth Federation. The seminar addressed the social and political causes of this phenomenon. ITALIAN EYE DOCTORS IN KOPLIK — A group of Italian ophthalmologists visited Koplik as part of the medical assistance that the Italian government has granted to Albania. During their stay, they examined many children. The doctors will bring a medicine with an opt[?] component for the children found to have poor eyesight. They will also provide humanitarian aid to the residents of this town.

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