The battle for the Shushica Valley

ita eng
22 July 2024

In Albania, a project that aims at boosting tourism in the coastal town of Himarë is putting at risk over 50,000 people living in the Shushica Valley, a tributary of the Vjosa river.

The project involves the diversion of the river waters towards the coast, with damage to the local population and the Vjosa national park. We talked about it here.

The following is a selection of photos taken by Nenci Bogdani.

 

This article was produced as part of the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI ), a project co-funded by the European Commission. Responsibility for the contents of this publication lies with Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa and does not in any way reflect the opinion of the European Union. Visit the project page

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Christian Griebler, professor at the University of Vienna, takes samples from the Lepusha stream from which the Shushica river originates. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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The project involves diverting water from the source of the Shushica (Lepusha) river and channeling it towards the tourist villages of Himarë. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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The Shushica River is one of the tributaries of the Vjosa River. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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The Development Fund of Albania is carrying out works along the Shushica River valley for the construction of an aqueduct as part of the Himarë water supply project. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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The Himarë water supply project involves the construction of a 17.3 kilometer long aqueduct, with pipes 6 meters long and 45 centimeters in diameter. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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A vehicle lays pipes near the village of Kuc. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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For months now, environmental activists and the local community have been protesting against the Himarë water supply project which threatens their social, environmental and economic future. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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For months now, environmental activists and the local community have been protesting against the Himarë water supply project which threatens their social, environmental and economic future. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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For months now, environmental activists and the local community have been protesting against the Himarë water supply project which threatens their social, environmental and economic future. Photo by Nensi Bogdani
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Members of the Shushica Valley community created a symbolic petition, collecting signatures on a water pipe and taking it to the Prime Minister's office. Photo by Nensi Bogdani