Janka appreciates partner help: We will rebuild Durres and Thummana

At a joint press conference with EU Delegation Ambassador Tirana and EU Civil Protection Director Gacka voiced confidence that partners will do their best to help Albanians.

The good friend is known in difficult times. Albania is not alone. You will do everything you can to help Albanians, and your assistance has a huge impact. Through you I want to thank the EU countries that are found in record time, European taxpayers for their generosity and solidarity, and above all experts who have helped us so much during these tragic times”,- Gacka said.

Only those who have gone through this experience can see how important it is that in a traumatic time like this, where you can't even believe the land you walk on, not feel alone, knowing that you're not obliged to face the fury of nature alone, but can rely on the solidarity of Albanian friends and partners.

The earthquake was devastating, but we will manage to build every apartment in Durres and Thuman. They hurt our lives. It must be long before the wounds heal. We did everything we could to help anyone in need of help”, Jacka stressed.

The minister noted that amid both mourning and pain, the only beautiful thing to give hope is the extraordinary solidarity that flowed from Albanians and partners.

Whatever really torments us is lost lives, is one of those facts that the mind of the soul has difficulty accepting and understanding. It will have to be long before the wounds heal if they can heal. We would have had more lives lost, without 780 experts from the 14 countries that fought for Albanians. They will be in the gratitude and hearts of Albanians. 400 is the number of items appreciated so far. Figures are about apocalypse size of injuries. The challenge is recovery, I'm optimistic about the messages, the willingness and aid of EU countries that we will not be alone in this challenge”, Gacka said.

According to the defence minister, activating the civil defence mechanism indicated once again, just as 2 years ago during floods affecting Vlora, Fier or Shkodra, or two months ago, during the earthquake that hit the country that Albania is not alone.

There are “friends, allies and partners who rushed to bring in the most specialized search-saving teams, damage assessment experts, or hundreds of tonnes of aid that have been distributed, easing the tremendous pain and trauma those citizens have suffered.

The November 26th earthquake was really very strong and the damage it has caused is huge and the challenge for “, the minister added.

She further stressed that coping with such damage is very difficult. But, she assured, no matter how difficult it may be, no matter how hard it may be to cope, I am convinced that we will be able to do it together.

We did everything we could to help anyone who needed help. To save lives. We responded quickly that in the first few minutes and the effectiveness of the armed forces, police, firefighters arrived in short time in the affected areas to help every remaining in need. He left behind their families, in a moment of anxiety to serve those most in need, often risking their own lives”, the minister underlined.

The minister also announced that the group of residential assessment experts, consisting of 70 experts organised in 11 groups, but also dozens of others expected to come in the coming days, supported by the European Union of Nations's common emergency mechanism, are continuing the technical assessment of residences, bringing today to 400 estimated targets.

Minister Gacka praised that a clear plan for overcoming the situation must be presented in order to return security to the people.

These thousands of citizens who have been sheltered today need hope, that this situation will not last indefinitely. We need to show the light at the end of the tunnel of distress and anxiety caused by this tragedy. The only way to do so is to show a clear plan, with clear commitments, whether by the Albanian state or by the EU, and by member states that we will continue to support the recovery challenge”, Gacka said.