Floods return, AAF in the field, Xhaçka: Identify problematic areas

: Published: Monday, 05 February 2018 16:05

The recent rainfall has again caused problems in some areas of the country. This situation called for the Armed Forces to go to the field to be close to the community and face the situation.

Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka alongside with the AAF was in the field, to closely follow the effective work in helping the affected inhabitants.

Apart from the maximum engagement of all structures of the Armed Forces during the floods, Minister Xhaçka emphasized the identification of problematic areas in order to prevent serious consequences.

"Since the moment the Civil Emergencies went under the Ministry of Defense, prior information and timely coordination with local government and their respective emergency structures remain a very important issue. But that's not enough. Preventing damages is just as important and past experiences should not remain just experiences. I have asked the Civil Emergency Department and the Institute of Military Geography to identify all the areas with problems in canals, drains, sewers, pipes, and potential landslide to have the full map of areas that have the risk of being affected by bad weather. Thus, we will have the opportunity to take timely measures for the future, starting from from the identification of the current situation", - said Minister Xhaçka.

Minister Xhaçka also spoke about infrastructure damage and sought better quality of work and more responsibility from local government. "The media reported damage to some bridges, two of which were built by the Armed Forces. It is very important for public opinion to be informed that municipalities have responsibilities regarding the quality of the built bridges. According to the law, municipalities are the ones that, according to the requests they send to the Ministry of Defense for the construction of bridges, provide the bridge base, that is, their feet.
The more serious the municipalities are in the quality of the bridge construction work, the more secure are the residents passing through these bridges with metallic elements set up by the Armed Forces. Once again I repeat the appeal made a few days ago to municipalities, to seriously consider the budget that the law requires at the disposal of emergencies, the establishment of special structures for emergencies and above all, the quality of work on the construction of bridges in order not to risk the lives of residents and the work of the AF's, who work in record time to help the community. "

During the difficult situation created by the precipitation, the Armed Forces engaged in the field over 150 officers from the Troop School in Bunavi and the 3-rd Infantry Battalion of Poshnje, while around 1000 other activists stood in readiness.

In Zall – Bastar, Tirana, 15 passengers were evacuated by the Support Command teams because the vehicles they were moving were blocked in the river.

In Novosel, 17 most vulnerable families were evacuated by the Armed Forces and the State Police, which also evacuated 2 people at risk of life in the Armen village of Selenica, where an Air Force helicopter was also engaged.

In Levan, the Armed Forces boats evacuated a mother with two children, while a heavy vehicle drove a two-passenger car from the water.

In Ferras, AF members evacuated 2 families, some of whom were transported for medical help at health centers.

In the most vulnerable flats, apart from residents, soldiers engaged to evacuate livestock and household goods.

With the improvement of the situation in the Mifoli Bridge area, a contingent of the Armed Forces equipped with 2 pumps, engaged in the village of Darzezë for the removal of water, as there is a risk of collecting the inflows at the mouth of Vjosa.