Albania donates €250,000 to Croatia after earthquake, official fundraising account opened

by croatiaweek
December 30, 2020
in News

Petrinja (Screenshot/Croatian Red Cross)

ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) – Albania will donate €250,000 to Croatia for post-earthquake reconstruction, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Wednesday.

“Just signed the Government of Albania decree to donate 250k EURO to brotherly Croatia to help the rebirth of Petrinja after the devastating earthquake! Croatia is an example of resilience and a role model for us in its amazing transformation into a proud EU country,” Rama tweeted.

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Albania in November 2019, claiming 51 lives. On that occasion Croatia sent rescue teams and search dogs and donated €1 million at a donor conference organised by the European Commission for the reconstruction of hospitals and schools.

The 6.2 quake that struck Croatia’s Sisak-Moslavina County on Tuesday killed at least seven and injured dozens, destroying hundreds of houses in Petrinja, Glina, Sisak and nearby towns and villages.

Many countries offer Croatia aid to help victims of earthquake

Many countries have offered Croatia urgent aid in the form of accommodation containers, winter tents, sleeping bags, heaters, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

After the devastating earthquake, Croatia requested the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and so far the countries that have responded to the call for urgent aid include Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Turkey, the Commission said.

On Wednesday, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic and EC Vice-President Dubravka Suica arrived in Croatia and met with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Together with Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, they will visit Petrinja, which was hit hardest by the earthquake.

“I arrived to Croatia to assure the Croatian people that the EU stands in full solidarity with them. Our ERCC (Emergency Response Coordination Centre) will continue to mobilise most urgent assistance,” Lenarcic said, thanking countries that have immediately rushed to Croatia’s help.

While we mourn the dead and plan for reconstruction, we also must learn lessons to avoid such tragedies where possible. Although nature cannot be controlled, we can study how and where people live. I am currently working on proposals for rural areas, but I am also preparing initiatives for urban areas, Suica said.

Official state fundraising account opened for earthquake relief

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has appealed to citizens who wish to help with earthquake relief to approach the Croatian Red Cross and the civil protection authority, adding that the state has opened an official relief fund account.

“We thank all our citizens who have shown a big heart, solidarity and unity but once again we appeal that anyone who wishes to help, to approach the Red Cross and civil protection authority. Due to the huge interest in Croatia and abroad, we have opened an official state treasury relief account,” Plenkovic tweeted.

Financial donations will go to repair the damage in Sisak-Moslavina County and other areas affected by the devastating earthquake.

Donations can be made to the following account:

IBAN Državnog proračuna Republike Hrvatske: HR12 1001 0051 8630 0016 0
Poziv na broj odobrenja: 5444 – OIB uplatitelja

For payment from abroad: BIC (SWIFT) Code: NBHRHR2XXXX
Bank: Croatian National Bank, Trg hrvatskih velikana 3, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
Beneficiary: Republic od Croatia – Ministry of Finance, Katanciceva 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Payment description: Earthquakes aid

Pope says is praying for Croatia quake victims

Pope Francis said on Wednesday he was praying for those who lost their lives in the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck Croatia on Tuesday as well as for their families and all those affected.

“Yesterday, an earthquake in Croatia caused victims and caused serious damage. I express my closeness to the wounded and to those who have been affected by the quake and I pray in particular for those who have lost their lives and for their families,” the pope tweeted.

Croatia’s Information Catholic Agency said that at the end of his regular general audience, the pontiff voiced hope that the international community will help the authorities in Croatia mitigate the suffering of its citizens.

Yesterday, an earthquake in Croatia caused victims and caused serious damage. I express my closeness to the wounded and to those who have been affected by the quake and I pray in particular for those who have lost their lives and for their families.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 30, 2020