Bajrami Warns Lives Are at Risk, Urges Kurti to Take Immediate Action Over Fire at Sferka Landfill

Hykmete Bajrami, an elected MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), has called on acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti to intervene without delay over the situation caused by the fire at the waste landfill in Sferka, Peja. She warned that the situation could have serious consequences for the environment and public health.

In a public statement, Bajrami said that, according to the latest information, several protesters and workers involved in efforts to extinguish the flames had suffered poisoning.

She criticized the way the responsible institutions have handled the case, stating that there had been no response from the Kosovo Landfill Management Company (KMDK), the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure.

According to Bajrami, Kurti must immediately ensure full coordination among the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Emergency Management Agency, the Kosovo Security Force, the Kosovo Police, fire brigades, and the Municipality of Peja. The aim, she stressed, is to make all state resources available to extinguish the fire and deal with the emergency.

Bajrami said the interventions carried out so far by the Municipality of Peja and the “Ambienti” company had not been sufficient, while the fire has continued for six days.

She also addressed a request to the mayor of Peja, Gazmend Muhaxheri, calling on him to activate all mechanisms at the municipal level to put an end to what she described as an “ecological catastrophe.”

The elected MP also announced that she had previously filed a criminal complaint with the Chief State Prosecutor and the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office, requesting an investigation into institutional negligence in connection with the case.

She stressed that if there is even one prosecutor left in the country who enforces the law, then someone must be held criminally responsible for this catastrophe.

Several workers reportedly suffered poisoning while working at the landfill in Sferka, Peja, and were rushed to hospital for medical treatment.

According to reports, the poisoning is linked to waste that has been burning at the landfill for some time. The situation has caused concern among local residents, while conditions in Sferka, Peja, have also prompted numerous reactions across the country.