Xhaçka thanks AAF servicemen: Our Civil Emergencies will be strengthened even more

Published: Sunday, 01 December 2019 10:39

Five days after the earthquake that killed 51 people, the Armed Forces are still on the ground helping citizens affected by the tragedy.

As the search and rescue operations have concluded, the Armed Forces have focused on logistic support, transporting food, clothing, and detergents to homeless people following the November 26 earthquake.

The Minister of Defense met with troops deployed at the premises of the “Niko Dovana” Stadium in Durrës. She thanked them for the dedication shown these days during Search and Rescue operations.

During the conversation with the servicemen on duty, Minister Xhaçka promised greater support with equipment and tools for the structures they are part of, to improve their performance in cases of any civil emergency.

“Not only you but also your colleagues, those in uniform and those not in uniform who helped the citizens affected by this great national tragedy, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Well done! I am proud of you! These are not words articulated in the spur of the moment, but I'm speaking to you from the heart. I know that challenges like this are also lessons learned to improve the work we do to further strengthen our structures. This goes for the search and rescue and those dedicated to civil emergencies. Also the techniques and tools, as well as the equipment you need to give a better service. Certainly, your sacrifice and dedication and professionalism are incredible, but we should support you more so that your work improves even more, and that's why we started, together with our partners, not only to modernize our capacities introducing new techniques but also resizing the way we need to organize the AAF, having specialized teams, well - trained with the proper equipment not only for SAR, but also for all natural disasters or civil emergencies that we might have to face from now on. Thank you once again, thank you from the heart. Well done! I really hope that your families had overcome the panic caused by you non being close to them, due to the fact that you had to help those who have had a great need if the areas hit by the earthquake."- said Minister Xhaçka.

Meeting the troops deployed at the "Niko Dovana" stadium, Minister Xhaçka was accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff of the AAF, Brigadier General Bardhyl Kollçaku and the Commander of the Support Command, Brigadier General Ndriçm Sallaku.

In addition to the distribution of relief aids, the AAF continue to furnish and support people in tent camps in Laç and the village of Bubq.

More than 400 Armed Forces personnel were engaged in the early hours of the November 26 event, while another 2,000 were on standby.