NATO Allies and partners began this week helping Albania cope with the most severe rainfalls ever recorded in the country, NATO�s press release says.
�NATO Allies and partner countries responded immediately to Albania�s request this week. Bulgaria, France, Montenegro, Slovenia and Slovakia well as Austria offered assistance, including water rescue equipment, power generators and temporary shelter,� NATO reports.
Other NATO Allies and partners are considering providing additional assistance in the coming days.
�The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) is NATO�s main civil emergency response mechanism, and functions as a clearing-house system for coordinating disaster relief assistance,� NATO�s press release ends.
Moreover, the EU also helps mobilise emergency support for floods. �Following a request for assistance from Albania after heavy flooding in the country, the Commission has helped mobilise water pumps, power generators and other flood response items through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU responded swiftly to the request for assistance thanks to offers of assistance from Austria, France, Slovakia and Slovenia. Albania has also received support from the EU's Copernicus satellite system which provided maps to the national civil protection authorities. An EU Civil Protection team is being deployed today and tomorrow in Albania to facilitate the reception of assistance and cooperation with Albanian authorities,� said the press release.
Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said: "We stand in solidarity to help the Albanian people and authorities at this time. Let me thank the strong support of our Member States who have provided valuable emergency supplies through our EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This is EU solidarity in action."