Albania was not prepared for wildfires, defence minister admits

Albanian defence minister Niko Peleshi admitted that the state was not ready or prepared for this summer’s wildfire season that killed two people and devastated thousands of hectares of countryside, orchards, and crops.

During a law commission hearing on Monday, Peleshi spoke about the country’s situation between July and September. He admitted that “we are not where we need to be in terms of readiness, be it air, sea, or maintenance.”

He continued that Albania and his ministry had “poor levels of preparedness especially in the air force”, adding that “operators did not respond in time and some did not respond at all.”

The minister said they are trying to improve the situation to delegate it to more organised structures. He also hinted that more equipment would be purchased at more competitive prices and that the responsibility for purchasing could be handed over to NATO.

In terms of financing, Peleshi said the budget for civil emergencies was allocated €20 million and that all staff would receive a 30% pay rise.

(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)