3 helicopters arrive from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, assistance from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism

Published: Friday, 06 August 2021 21:09

 

3 helicopters have arrived at Rinas Airport, from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, part of the support that the two countries are giving to Albania, in the framework of the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, to extinguish fires in the territory of Albania.

The helicopters were received at the "Mother Teresa" airport by Deputy Defence Minister Dallëndyshe Bici, the director of the Civil Protection Agency Haki Çako, representatives of the respective embassies, the political chief of the EU Delegation in Tirana Alexis Hupin.

Deputy Defence Minister Dallëndyshe Bici thanked on behalf of the Albanian government the two countries for the assistance provided in these difficult days while announcing that the work of helicopters will start early tomorrow morning.

The Director of the Civil Protection Agency, Haki Çako, expressed his gratitude for the prompt response of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, noting that the situation has been particularly aggravated on the Karaburun Peninsula, right on the border with the Llogara National Park.

The political head of the EU delegation, Alexis Hupin, said that the assistance coming from the European Union is a sign of European solidarity: "This is an expression of solidarity of the European Union and we want to stand by Albania in these moments. We are here to protect the lives of people who are being affected by these fires and also the beauties of Albanian nature. Tomorrow the work with the helicopter starts", - said Mr. Hupin.

The first helicopter arrived from the Czech Republic, out of 3 that are expected to join the firefighting aid fleet. Along with the helicopters, part of the aid is also over 50 military forces specialized in the field of Civil Emergencies, who will join the Albanian Forces that have been doing uninterrupted efforts for days to extinguish the wildfires in some areas of Albania.

The European Union has activated the Civil Protection Mechanism to come to the aid of some of the countries most affected by the fires, such as Albania, Italy, Greece and Northern Macedonia