Tirana City Hall 100 million leks for Thumana, Veliaj: Tirana has set up solidarity flag

In addition to helping with tools and forces in people sent to areas affected in field rescue operations, the Municipal Council at today's meeting approved a 100 million-dollar financial assistance fund for the Kruja Together and specifically for Thumana. Tirana Mayor in his address stressed that Tirana today raised the solidarity flag with all those who are now in trouble by today's powerful morning earthquake.

The “today we actually had another day planned, to celebrate the flag raising in Tirana, is 107th anniversary when Tirana raised the flag. Apparently, history called us to raise another flag today. Of course Albanian, but Albanian with solidarity, with support, kindness, love, in a panic and disaster situation. I'd like to give you a call to keep everyone up this kind of Albanian flag of solidarity. So today we immediately provide a 100 million - dollar aid to the Cruja Hall, where Thumana is located. It's the most affected area, while with Valbonne, the mayor of Durres will have to communicate in the coming days, to see her too after the emergency passes, what the need is, and to do a second aid to Durres. But for Thummana, since it's a small country and a big emergency, and a low-income municipality, I want to offer this solidarity, as with its recovery, as every Albanian looks, it will have to think about our neighbours, even our neighbours, I want to supply this emergency assistance to”, Veliaj said.

He stressed that the emergency team sent to Durres directly contributes to the survival of lives found under the rubble. I believe we all agree that we don't have the kind of earthquake, such disasters, but we have the way we react. As the effort continues, I have a special appreciation for all of Tirana's Bahski colleagues who have been meeting teams in Durres and Thumana after finishing with emergencies here since the early hours of the morning between 0400 and 0800 hours, then I have given them permission to continue contributing. I see some members of the Municipal Council who have taken their private means from Tirana to assist. Today I believe that the real heroes are every soldier, cop, fascist, physician, fireman, Civil Emanacs staff, anyone who's taken over his duty. He has not seen his clock or his family, but in that mess, he arranged work in Tirana and joined forces in Durres and Thumane.”, Veliaj said.

He also disclosed that Tirana in respect of the victims and this natural disaster has cancelled all celebrations organised on the occasion of the Flag and Liberation Festival. We're going to cancel all the White Night festive activities. This is not the moment. We'll have another time to celebrate. But as Albania mourns this disaster, we will do the minimum respect for national symbols and the flag, but for holidays there will have to be another moment. They say holy books, there's a moment to cry, and a moment to laugh. A moment for wearing black, a moment for whites. This isn't the moment for celebration, so we're looking for the City Hall launch of any other activity, except for the minimum protocol on Flag Day, even on Liberation Day”, Veliaj suggested.

The mayor announced that Tirana would also increase its fire fleet to increase capacity and response at the moment of difficulty.

“In the meantime, I will also ask that, with an emergency decision, today Tirana City Hall is only to cover its needs, has brought fire vehicles to other municipalities as well. I asked that in this emergency situation we add our fire fleet. All right, well, we have superheroes, but there's no need for us to step down. It's this moment to reflect, not when the other vaki comes, but that today we will grow the fire fleet. We have the same fleet that had when the town was small, not now that the city is from Zalbastari in Ndokuq, even from Kashari to Krabba, and then we help out for other municipalities. So since we're at the end of the budget, I believe you'll also approve this help to increase my capacity and needs. We had a tremendous solidarity. I talked to most of the ambassadors. Most of the world's prime ministers. All the mayors of the region have contacted me. In fact, the mayor of Skopje has sent us a group that makes geothermal vision, that is, according to the temperature of the human body, tells us what is in the ruins, and where it is exactly where it needs to be sought, to make sure that the hours we have completely maximized, and I want to thank the mayor of Skopje, and all the other leaders for solidarity”, Veliaj said.