(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS - International donors on Monday
pledged 1.15 billion euros ($1.25 billion) to help Albania
recover from a powerful earthquake last year, the EU chief
announced, more than double the sum expected by Tirana. Albanian
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the sum - which exceeds the total
recovery bill of 1.08 billion euros assessed by the UN - was
"beyond my wildest imagination", having begun the day hoping for
pledges of only 400 million euros. The money will help the
impoverished Balkan state rebuild and recover after the
6.4-magnitude quake which hit in November, killing 51 people and
leaving 17,000 homeless. "Good news for the people of Albania:
We've surpassed our target for the reconstruction of Albania and
reached a total of 1.15 billion euros, incl. 400 million euros
in EU contributions," European Commission President Ursula von
der Leyen tweeted. "I'm overwhelmed by the support. Once again
Europe stands together when it matters most!". (ANSA-AFP)
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