TIRANE, March 22 – Following a massive explosion at an army depot in Gerdec, a specialized United Nations team arrived in Tirana at the request of the Albanian Government.
The team is made up of experts from the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The team will work with the Albanian Government to make a rapid assessment of priority needs in the aftermath of the explosion at Gerdec where 22 people were killed and many more wounded.
During a two week mission, United Nations experts will also support national authorities in the strategic planning and coordination of international support.
The team is composed of six members with expertise in civil emergency planning, communications, logistics, emergency coordination and management including environmental impact assessment.
“The United Nations is ready to assist Albania through this tragedy,” said Gulden Turkoz-Cosslett, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania. “Many United Nations Agencies in the country are also assisting Albania and I’m confident this team of professionals will be of great support to national authorities and affected communities”.
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