ECONOMIC SITUATION IN ALBANIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R007800010007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 12, 2013
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: May 17, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/12/12 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007800010007-5
CLASSIFICATION-eeFSVCONTR'OL - U. S. OFFICIALS
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPO
INFORMATION REPORT CO NO.
COUNTRY klbanla
SUBJECT Economic Situation in Albania
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
50X1
DATE DISTR. 17 lty 1951
NO. OF PAGES 2
- INTE11.0FAlf It
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO. 50X1 -HUM
?
IRIS Docenver al111111118 INIFOROAT)ON AFFECTING TNT IMMORAL OTIPRIIST
OF TRE la MOW STATES WIWI ma ISEANINS OF TEE VOTORAGE ACT $O
ML C. SI AND S/1. AS AMIDES. ITS TRANSMISSION CO TEE REVELATION
OF ITS writ= no ANY MAIMS TO AN ONAVTINIRIEED NEM IS villf*
RAMC IT 1.0a. REPNOINICEION OF IWO PORN IS FROISINITES.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
50X1 -HUM
1.
The food sitoation in Albania has become incredibly desperate
except for privileged Commaist Farty members. The price o150X1-HUM
corn meal is now 150 leks per kAlogram. Many city residents have been
forced to sell the few pieces of furniture they still possess in order
to obtainmoney for bread.
2. Deaths from starvation have taken place in the Shkoder area. is a result
of drought and the Governmentio requisitioning of grain, peasants of the
plains around Shkoder have formed lone mule caravans and headed into the
mountains in search of bread, such a thing has neve50X1-HUM
happened before, as the peasants of this area are traditionally large
grain producers.
. Throughout the country, as a result of long suffering, one sees faces
which are emaciated and spiritless. Without shoes and nearly naked,
young children stare with incredulity at bread when it Is offered them.
Desperate mothers wander through city streets in search of work to sup-
port their children. Pitiful young girls stand in their doorways offer-
ing their smiles and their bodies in exchange for food.
The people viewthese scenes with terror. Though they appear merely to
shrug their shoulders, they are angered by their powerlessness. The
youth, which once %es fel of hope for its own future and that of the
? country, today seems worn with age, suspicious, afraid to act, without
hope.
Fearing a serious and widespread revolt, the Government is taking every
possible security measure to hold the peculation at bay.
6, The Communist hierarchy is unaffected by the country's misery and degrath.
tion and ruinously continues to exploit what is best 50X1-HUM
among the youth, the taverns are filled with the
reckless gaiety of the Communists, while among the population reign sick- ,
ness? misery and death.
Dom
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CLASSIFICATION?Mitermitic9NTRoL u.: Ft!at)
STATE.;. r,v _x_tiff NSREI DISTRIBUTION 1.11.th.1
ARMY lx MR MM ORR tyj
,0450X1-HUM
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BY CABLE
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 20'13/12/12 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007800010007-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/12/12 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007800010007-5
-/ 144
-itieszT/ccarnaot U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
-.2-,
50X1
I'. Other information of late April 1951 states that food is not to be found
because the population is dying of hunger. an 50X1-HUM
Albanian in the Shkoder area recaotly went to 19 different homes without
finding bread. At the end of April a quintal of corn cost 200000 'eke,
when it could be found.
--tee-MT/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS autr
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/12/12 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007800010007-5