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State Minister Bledi Çuci announced today at a joint conference with the EU Ambassador to Albania, Luigi Soreca, the Needs Assessment Report after the Earthquake Disaster, 10 days before the Donors' Conference, which is expected to be held in Brussels.
"A devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake killed 51 people, injured a thousand and displaced about 17,000 people from damaged homes. This natural disaster affected 202,291 people in 11 local units.”- said Mr. Çuci.
The report released today more than two months after the earthquake will be the key document for the Donor Conference and for all ongoing reconstruction programs.
“More than 21 EU countries helped Albania through the earthquake through the emergency mechanism. Albania has been treated as if it were an EU member state, with the same care and support as other members of the Union.”- said the ambassador of the European Union, Luigi Soreca.
The earthquake destroyed a large number of houses, palaces, schools and businesses in Durrës, Lezha and Tirana. In addition to emergency operations, Albania was quickly assisted by the European Union, the US, the United Nations and the World Bank.
“Our international friends and partners showed great support and solidarity. One week after the disaster, the Albanian government sought the support of the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank for a full assessment of post-disaster needs, damages, losses and earthquake recovery,” said Minister Cuci.
The opposition has accused the government of mismanaging the post-earthquake situation, and has even sued two ministers and four municipalities for the deaths caused by the quake.