EU humanitarian aids to assist earthquake affected families, Xhaçka: The collapsed buildings will be rebuilt

Published: Saturday, 05 October 2019 14:01

14 European Union member states, and 2 non-EU member countries were immediately solidarized to assist Albanian families affected by the earthquake of 21 September 2019.

The donations came to the General Directorate of State Material Reserves at a ceremony attended by the Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka, Head of the Delegation of the European Union Luigi Soreca, ambassadors of the contributing countries and directors from Department of Civil Emergencies and  General Directorate of State Material Reserves.

Minister Xhaçka thanked the contributing countries for the assistance in this difficult moment and assured the affected citizens for the reconstruction of their dwellings.

“All collapsed buildings will be rebuilt from the state budget reserve fund for civil emergencies, as well as the solidarity fund that has already been allocated. While rebuilding is a short-term challenge to ease the situation for these families as much as possible, the biggest challenge we face as state, as government, is to take all measures to be prepared for situations and events that may come as a result of natural disasters or civil emergencies. The Membership in the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) will be the hallmark of the success of this work that we have taken very seriously, not only it is the next reform, but also it has a direct impact on our safety, life and health of the Albanian citizens. ”- said Minister Xhaçka.

The Ambassador of Italy to our country Alberto Cutillo, and that of the Slovenia, Peter Japelj, praised the reaction of the Albanian authorities and especially the Ministry of Defense after the earthquake. The Head of the European Union Delegation to Albania, Luigi Soreca, underlined the readiness of the countries, which, according to him, started the movement only 2 days after the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

“We are proud of the efficiency of our EU Civil Protection Mechanism. It took only a few days after its activation to set up a team of 8 experts and send it to Albania. Solidarity is at the heart of the European Union. The Emergency Response Coordination Center responds to our citizens' demand for such solidarity through concrete actions, with maximum efficiency and minimal bureaucracy and not only within the EU, as solidarity knows no bounds ", emphasized Ambassador Soreca.

The humanitarian aids from EU member states such as Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, as well as non-member countries Montenegro and Norway, comprises mainly equipment and tools for quick and temporary housing, as well as expertise through European Civil Emergency specialists.