TIRANA, Jan. 17 – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta met with the President of the Albanian Red Cross, Shyqyri Subashi, to discuss the situation in the Shkodra area and about the work done by the Albanian Red Cross to help the affected families.
They also talked about the Albanian contribution, in particular of the Albanian Red Cross, for Haiti following the consequences of the catastrophic tragedy there with the earthquake last week.
Subashi said that the Albanian Red Cross has decided to donate 15,000 dollars to the Haitian people because of the extraordinary natural disaster that hit that country.
Meta thanked Subashi for the effective engagement of the Albanian Red Cross in the management of humanitarian emergency in the Shkodra area and expressed the will for better cooperation in the future.
Italy continues emergency relief
TIRANA, Jan. 17 – Over 40 tonnes of supplies, including 15 electricity generators, 4,000 blankets, 6 boats, draining pumps, tents and energy food were handed over to the Albanian authorities emergency relief from Italy to help the population struck by the floods in the north west of Albania arrived at the port of Durres this morning.
The aid convoy, accompanied by charg顤’Affaires for the Italian Embassy in Tirana, Francesco de Luigi, and personnel from the Italian Cooperation, went straight to the military airport in Gjader, in the north of the country. There, two Italian army helicopters were sent to Albania along with a group from Italy’s Civil Protection force, to begin distribution of the aid in the region of Velipoja, one of the areas worst hit by the flooding.
The Albanian authorities today reaffirmed their great appreciation for the outstanding collaboration and support offered by Italy to tackle the emergency in the northwest of the country
FYROM Red Cross aid
SKOPJE, Jan. 18 – The FYROM Red Cross has made an appeal to citizens, organizations, firms and everyone who wanted to help the people affected by the floods in Albania, FYROM media announced.
Donations will be made to the Solidarity Fund through a bank account or by calling published telephone numbers. The FYROM Red Cross joined the call of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to assist the people affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Croatia gives aid to Shkodra and Haiti
ZAGREB, Jan. 17 – The Croatian government will donate one million kunas (137,000 Euros) to the Croatian Red Cross for victims of the Haitian earthquake and earthquake relief efforts.
Croatia will also help Albania, which was hit by floods in the northern part of the country. The government will donate 60,000 liters of fuel to Albania.
The government has also decided to donate 520,000 kunas’ worth of equipment (71,329 Euros) to the central and southern parts Croatia hit by heavy rain and floods.
Turkey’s Ambassador visits Shkodra
SHKODRA, Jan. 17 – Turkish Ambassador to Tirana, Hasan Sevilir Ashan, made a visit to the flood-hit area in northern Shkodra to see first hand the damage caused by the recent flooding.
The ambassador was accompanied by Turkish businesses in Albania such as the ȡlik Holding, Eagle Mobile, Universiteti Epoka, Universal Hospital Tirana, Turkish College, etc.
Officials of the Turkish government’s coordinating office were also present.
They met with local authorities headed by Prefect Maxhid Cungu and Mayor Lorenc Luka.
Turkish businesses were among the first to offer their assistance to the flood-affected population in the northwestern area of the country bringing with them some eight tonnes of aid in food and health items.
Turkey’s IHH, Humanitarian Relief Foundation, reached out to flood victims in Albania.
IHH said in a statement sent to World Bulletin, “Ưur teams distributed 4 tons of relief supplies to flood victim families in Albania. 5 thousand people have benefited from the distribution. The aid consists of a container of blankets, clothes and food,” it stated.
Army bears the bulk of emergency work
SHKODRA, Jan. 18 – The army was the main institution offering most of the support for the emergency relief in northwest’s Shkodra and Lezha floods.
Some 800 army troops could be seen everywhere around the flood-hit area.
They continued without interruption the operation supported with more than 222 vehicles and four helicopters.
Other countries also offered their assistance, exploiting their military tools such as three helicopters (2 CH-47, 1 AS-350) from Italy; 33 troops, and seven escort vehicles from the Kosovo security force; 47 troops, five boats and four vehicles from FYROM; and 29 troops and five vehicles from Greece.
The Army Chief of General Staff, Gen-Brig. Maksim Malaj, held a ceremony at Gjadri Air Base to award a medal for “outstanding service” to the three commanders of helicopters and the Italian doctor who participated in the operation for distributing relief from air to Shkod철area.
US aid to flood-hit residents
TIRANA, Jan. 17 – In response to the emergency situation created by flooding in northern Albania, the United States Embassy announced that it was donating $50,000 in emergency assistance to support those most affected. The funds would be disbursed to the Albanian Red Cross which is currently working to provide assistance to an estimated 5,000 people in northern Albania.
Together with European Commission Ambassador Lohan and EU President in Office Representative Ambassador Montobbio, Ambassador Withers toured the flooded area on January 14 at the invitation of President Topi.
The Ambassador said that this first phase of assistance will be followed by a second phase focused on recovery and rehabilitation.
The Embassy is also closely consulting with the Albanian Government and coordinating with the international community, not only on how to respond to the immediate needs of the affected population, but also on the eventual return of people to their communities and the need for reconstruction and recovery efforts.
During his tour of the flooded areas, Ambassador Withers met with officials directing and carrying out relief operations, as well as with families who are affected by the floods. Ambassador Withers said his tour provided a first-hand view of the impact of the floods and the challenges facing those whose families, homes, businesses and livestock have been touched by the floods.
“We’ve been able to meet with many of the people whose lives have been disrupted, and the visit provided me with a greater understanding on what families are confronting as they were forced to evacuate.”
The Ambassador praised the immediate relief efforts and support being provided by national and local government officials, NGOs, the international community and many others who are involved in the relief effort.
“I admire the strength and perseverance of those who are directly affected and applaud the many fine efforts of Albanians who are working to support those in immediate need at this time,” Ambassador Withers said.
China’s Red Cross joins donations for flood-hit area
TIRANA, Jan. 18 – China’s Red Cross on Monday donated 30,000 US dollars to Albania to support relief work in the country’s flooded northwestern region.
After being notified about widespread flooding in northwest Albania, the Chinese Red Cross decided to extend a helping hand to the victims, Chinese Ambassador to Albania Wang Junling said.
The money embodies China-Albania friendship, Wang said, at a donation ceremony in the Chinese embassy in Tirana.
He expressed the hope that the donation could help with the relief and reconstruction work in the flooded area.
Shyqyri Subashi, president of the Albanian Red Cross, thanked the Chinese government and the Chinese Red Cross for the donation, saying it would be a big help to the relief and reconstruction work, and also an encouragement to the people in the flood-hit region.
The floods, caused by heavy rainfall, have forced about 5,000 people to flee their homes.
Government statistics show that some 10,000 hectares of farmland and 2,400 houses have been flooded.
