The European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated on 26 September, after two devastating earthquakes that hit Albania on 21 September, prompted flash floods.
In an immediate response, the EU has helped mobilise first aid supplies and relief items, such as tents, power generators and water pumps to the affected areas.
“I warmly thank Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia and Norway for their offers of assistance through our Civil Protection Mechanism. Our thoughts are with all those in the affected areas and the first responders working on the ground”, said Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, Christos Stylianides.
The European Union’s 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in constant contact with the Albanian authorities to closely monitor the situation and channel further EU assistance on request. It will also deploy an EU Civil Protection Team of several experts to facilitate the coordination of the in-coming assistance.