“Earthquake”, Ministry of Defence publishes the aid collection contacts

Published: Sunday, 27 October 2019 23:35

Dear citizens,

As you have followed from our communications and media coverage, the situation caused by the earthquake continues to be serious. Search and rescue work is still ongoing, verification teams have start their work and citizens need to be patient and calm until the situation stabilizes.

However, these days of tension and anxiety have also been days of tremendous solidarity and generosity. Despite the great power of nature, the solidarity of Albanians and our partners has been even greater. This solidarity is an aid of much greater value than just the monetary or material values being donated. Solidarity above all gives hope and faith. Every citizen should know that he is not alone and will not be left alone.

Currently, apart from the help that has been offered by the Albanian citizens from every corner of Albania, Kosovo and the world, our partners from different countries through our bilateral relations have also shown tremendous solidarity. We are working to activate the NATO and European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism, which would be a great help in managing the earthquake consequences.
My call is addressed to all citizens, associations and businesses who would like to help.

The influx of humanitarian relief aids, donations and gifts, offers of help and volunteer work is so great that at the moment it is imperative that this assistance be coordinated and organized to be as efficient as possible.

We understand and thank all those agents, who out of a good will, desire to do something for their fellow citizens in these dramatic hours, have done a tremendous job collecting humanitarian relief aids and donations. For these aids to reach the right destination, to reach the people in need, to prioritize needs according to the situation on site, in different villages, cities, neighborhoods or families, it is necessary to channel them through the Emergencies Staffs established near the prefectures and Civil Emergencies.

In spite of goodwill, the clutter and confusion in these moments not only do not help in reaching the desired impact, but risk having the opposite effect.

Therefore, anyone wishing to contribute is invited to channel their donation through the State Reserves and the Armed Forces Support Command, through the following numbers:

04 22 22 223
04 22 28 250
and 0688046664

These numbers are available to citizens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to coordinate assistance, but also to inform you about specific points being set up in all major cities.

I’m taking the opportunity to thank second-tier banks, which since today, have abolished commissions for any voluntary donations or transfers that go into the earthquake relief fund.
I also get the chance to ask the phone companies to help us by sending their subscribers an SMS with these contact points and addresses where they can submit their donation, whether monetary or material, whether food and medical supplies, clothing, or toys for children and anything else.

The media is already doing a tremendous job in this regard and I would like to thank them for everything they have done these days and encourage them to continue this orientation campaign, which is really helping us a lot.
In these moments, we need every humanitarian relief aid we can get. Today, we need logistics, housing, food, and clothing.

However the real need, the real challenge will be that of rebuilding. I know from the information I have received and communications I have had that many businesses, especially construction or engineering and architecture studios and many large and successful businesses, want to help in this second phase of dealing with the consequences of earthquake.

I thank them all and invite them once again to contact us on 04 22 22 223, 04 22 28 250 and 0688046664
Our request for them at this moment, being unable to use the assistance they provide, is to deposit to our Staffs their commitments in the form of detailed pledges with our donations, so that we can also catalog, list and organize this vital assistance for any family affected by this serious tragedy.

It is very important that everyone who really wants to help, hear and join this call that will allow us to use with maximum efficiency and impact as well as full transparency every penny that will be collected as a result of this extraordinary solidarity spirit.

In conclusion, I would like to inform all the residents of the Durrës city, Thumanë and other affected areas of a very good housing opportunity that has been ensured through a long-term contractual agreement signed by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the best hotels in the country, in Durrës, Tirana, Vlora etc.

Taking into consideration that the winter is approaching, the cold weather, and especially the rainfall, and considering how difficult it will be to stay in tents, especially for families with children and elderly people, we would invite citizens currently sheltered in tents at the Durrës stadium to move to one of these accommodation units. There they will not only have much better living conditions but also food.

There are currently over 100 citizens transferring as we speak, from the Niko Dovana Stadium in Durrës to these hotel facilities. However, there are 1500 beds available in total for all those residents who are about to move.
In another act of solidarity, for which I would like to thank from my heart, are many companies, drivers and individual vehicles owners, vans and buses owners, who were willing to transport these citizens.
I would like to reiterate once again that the contact numbers available 24/7 to properly address the humanitarian relief aids where they should be addressed, are: 04 22 22 223, 04 22 28 250 and 068 80 46 664.