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VOA: Kukës district between youth emigration and poverty

2024-01-13 21:41:39, Aktualitet CNA

Representatives of civil society in Kukës express concern over the continuation of the phenomenon of illegal immigration, mainly of young people, which, according to them, is affecting the deterioration of the socio-economic life of the residents of one of the areas with many natural resources, with mines chrome and copper, hydropower plants like that of Fierza, which is the country's main supplier of energy, the national park of Valbona, but also several border crossing points with Kosovo.

However, says Rifat Demalija from the Progres Youth Center, young people continue to leave through channels that traffickers have set up for years.

"In 2023 alone, there may be 400-500 young people who tried to leave for England, but not only, but also to other countries for reasons of emigration. Meanwhile, the number of families with children who leave the country has decreased, this is because a large part, after having tried illegal immigration, have returned and have not risked leaving again due to the high costs. , danger for their children and insecurity in the place of arrival", he says.

Only during 2022, according to the data of the Institute of Statistics, the population of Kukës District increased by 1270 people, or by 1.7 percent, and this is mainly due to immigration. The largest number of emigrants from Kukës District are from rural areas, where the living conditions are more difficult and where, more and more, the lack of labor force is being felt.

The residents of the three municipalities of the Kukës District benefit almost nothing from the many natural resources that are exploited in their territory, which has influenced the fact that the Kukës District is ranked as the poorest district in Albania.

"Economic difficulties, unemployment, education, infrastructure, which are not appropriate in the country where they live, cause these young people to leave", says Eris Zenelaj from civil society.

Illegal and unorganized immigration, according to Mr. Demalija, has negatively affected the economy of the area, where the lack of economic activity of young people is already felt, this is mainly emphasized in the rural area of ??the three municipalities of this district.

"If we take a look at the bars and restaurants of Kukës, Has and Tropoja, we notice the phenomenon of very young people, 12, 13 years old, who serve as waiters, beyond the permitted employment rates, but this has come about because of lack of labor".

Faced with a phenomenon that is not stopping, representatives of civil society in the Kukës District express the need for clear government programs in support of the social-economic development of this remote northeastern area to curb illegal immigration, mainly of young people. towards EU countries./ VOA