The first stage of the search and rescue efforts for saving people under collapsed buildings after the devastating 6.4-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale, which shook Albania on November 26^th, has already ended.

In an interview with Radio Bulgaria, Albanian Ambassador to Sofia Donika Hoxha told us about the tragedy in numbers, saying that in addition to the victims, whose number reached 51 "about 900 people received aid in hospitals, 45 have been rescued in search operations and have been saved from the rubble with the help of countries that have come and provided help, even without being asked for it. More than 1,200 houses have been completely destroyed, many apartment buildings have cracked walls and people are scared to return to them. In reality, about 5,200 people remain in the street and are currently living in tents and we are still in the process of assessing the total damage".

A week after the worst tremor, business remains paralyzed, many people do not go to work. Many residents of areas close to the city of Durres and the capital city of Tirana have left their homes and are currently staying with their relatives in other parts of the country.

"Albanians are in panic. The earthquake on November 26 was followed by more than a thousand secondary tremors of magnitude varying between 1.9 and 5.2 on the Richter scale and people’s fear is understandable,” Ambassador Hoxha said. "Specialists say that the peak might have passed, but tremors are also dangerous for already damaged buildings that may become completely uninhabitable."

There is already a large team of about 50 psychologists from Kosovo helping their local counterparts deal with the consequences and facilitate a quicker return to normal life. The next challenge for the country is to assess the total damage and especially the condition of dangerous buildings, which would need to be demolished or if possible urgently repaired. International support is needed and Albania is expecting the arrival of engineers and architects from Italy and specialists from the USA. A request for assistance has also been sent to Bulgaria.

“The Bulgarian government helped us in the very first moment after the earthquake. We received 200,000 levs from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the ambassador said, adding also about the humanitarian aid sent by the Ministry of Interior and the Bulgarian Red Cross, consisting of tents, blankets, sheets, hygiene kits. "In addition, several foundations sent money to the bank accounts of our donation campaign. At this point, even the smallest donation is helpful to Albania and its citizens. I would like to thank for the act of kindness of a Bulgarian family who are living in France and offered their home in Bulgaria for accommodation to one of the affected families. These are gestures that mean and show a lot.”

At this point, the most important thing that the Albanian people need is solidarity, as the damage is so great that the country is unable to cope alone with the consequences.

"As I said, the damage is apocalyptic. This is a real disaster for our country and we cannot handle it alone. We understood that in the very first hours after the earthquake. That is why we ask for help from all the friendly countries - our neighbors, the EU, and all who could help us."

The call for help is not only to countries. The donation campaign is open to anyone who wants to help the recovery of Albania, which would undoubtedly take years.

English: Alеxander Markov