Minister Xhaçka visits families affected by earthquake: Today, a message of solidarity and tolerance particularly for destitute

Published: Tuesday, 21 August 2018 18:03

Dibra District, Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka visited today the families affected by the a few days ago earthquake. She held several meetings with families in the village of Vinjoll and Dukagjini, where the epicenter of the earthquake was, and as a result, more than 20 families have since been sheltered in the tents erected by the Armed Forces.

During the inspection in the affected areas, the Minister stressed that the Armed Forces and Civil Emergencies will continue to be close to inhabitants in need: "The Ministry of Defense and Civil Emergencies since the first day have provided support for these residents, who suffer from the earthquake damage to their dwellings. Around several hundreds of houses have been damaged, while dozen of them are uninhabitable. In the Municipality of Mat, where the damage was greatest, the teams were in the field, but there is a lack of accountability, as there has not been maintained the required pace. Of course, the municipality is the main actor to first tackle emergencies. Undoubtedly, there must be a highly coordinated and consulted arrangement among all and Civil Emergencies at the central level, but we are doing our utmost to aid the municipality and assessment teams to carry out this work at a much better pace than they are doing today and soonest possible because without a doubt these people want a solution that is not delayed but quick, since rains will start and the cold of winter will come. So the solution must be immediate and we all have to do our best to find it."

The Minister of Defense, also benefiting from the Eid holiday, did not hesitate to give a message together with the AAF’s and Civil Emergencies’ members, who distributed food for all families, a contribution to the Festival of Sacrifice: "Today we have also come to give you symbolic help by offering you Festival of Sacrifice's lunch, except for the other aid we have provided not only during these days, but also today with the Civil Emergencies, as well as with the State Reserves. We take advantage of the opportunity to extend my best regards to all Muslim believers, and I very much wish for the Lord to give courage and strength to these people to face these difficult days and to everyone much more love in their hearts, much more tolerance and solidarity."

The Armed Forces and Civil Emergencies, through Civil Emergencies have been assisting families in all administrative units, whose houses are uninhabitable, with tents, food packages, beds, and basic materials. Only in the Municipality of Mat, due to the earthquake, over 300 houses were damaged, 36 of which are currently uninhabitable.

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