Albania thanks EU countries for their aid to cope with floods

TIRANA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Albania is grateful to European Union (EU) countries which expressed solidarity and sent aid to help the authorities here better cope with the floods that affected many areas early this month, Albania's Defense Minister Olta Xhacka said Friday.

Xhacka met the ambassadors of EU countries accredited in Tirana, and extended Albanian government's gratitude to their respective countries who immediately responded to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism request through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre.

The minister noted that Albania managed to cope with the recent floods situation thanks to the aid of other countries.

On her part, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Albania Romana Vlahutin positively assessed the government investments in prevention of greater flood consequences and thanked the officers engaged in the affected areas.

Ambassadors of Austria, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia highlighted the Emergency Response Coordination Centre and expressed their readiness to cooperate.

The first aid through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre came from Greece and Slovenia, while aid from Austria, France and Slovakia is expected Friday.

Italy has sent a mission of assessing conditions on the damaged bridges.

Meanwhile, EU delegation here Friday informed that EU Civil Protection Mechanism was deployed in Albania to offer assistance after December 2017 heavy rainfall, which caused floods in the central and southern part of the country.

On Dec. 4, Albania requested assistance from the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), the operational heart of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The ERCC coordinated with relevant authorities to establish a list of emergency response items, which was then sent to participating states. Enditem