Sources near Euronews Albania have confirmed that The Netherlands will dispatch helicopters to Albania to help authorities as they scramble to fight the flames that have engulfed several areas across the country.
The story was confirmed in the afternoon by the European Commission, after it activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
In total, five helicopters have been deployed to extinguish the flames, especially in the southern part of the country.
As confirmed by defense minister Niko Peleshi, Albania only owns one helicopter, which has already been put to use to fight the fire in the Karaburun peninsula.
From Tuesday, the government gave the Civil Defense Agency permission to use two private helicopters.
High temperatures and intentional fires have created a difficult situation with fire outbreaks reported in around 6 counties.
Hundreds of acres, mainly bushes and trees, have been reduced to ashes in the past two weeks, particularly in the south.
Fire outbreak in Gjirokaster has been extinguished, says defense minister
Defense Minister Niko Peleshi said on Wednesday that the fire outbreaks that were reactivated during the evening in Lunxheri, a village near Gjirokastra, have been put down. He also called on authorities to keep an eye open amid concerns over fires that might be set deliberately.
Firefighters, aided by 100 soldiers, were mobilized to extinguish the flames in several Gjirokastra villages.
Opposition’s stance
The leader of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, took it to Facebook to address his concerns over the situation while commending the civil emergency unit and army.
Basha said he’s dismayed by the fact Prime Minister Rama is using an army helicopter for personal reasons instead of putting it at the disposal of the firefighters.
“Naturally, the imminent threat from fires can be found anywhere in the region, but in no place, it happens that in a time of crisis, the few means we have, are reduced even more only to increase the privileges of one man”, said DP’s leader.
More helicopters needed, says expert
The President’s advisor on Civil Protection, Shemsi Prenci, told Euronews Albania that more air support is needed to put out the fires across the country.
According to him, the structures in place have failed and emphasized that the way in which authorities intervened to extinguish the flames that were coming near a residential area in Gjirokastra is the “worst example of how a fire response should be”, adding that the Defense Ministry should have prepared the air fleet since June.
Prenci said that helicopters are important means when it comes to battling the flames, and in the case when the government does not have the necessary capacities to act alone, it should reach out to private companies or the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
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