Albania: 2nd quake relief plane arrives from Turkey

By Fatjon Cuka, Seyyid Emin, Furkan Abdula, and Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - A second Turkish airplane carrying aid to victims of last week’s earthquake arrived in the Albanian capital Tirana on Tuesday.

The Turkish military aircraft carrying relief supplies including tents, blankets, portable beds and heaters were welcomed by Albanian Deputy Defense Minister Petro Koci, Turkey's Ambassador Ahmet Murat Yoruk, as well as Turkish and Albanian troops.

"The Turkish people are more than friends for Albanians,” Koci told reporters at the airport. “Turkey has always stood beside Albania in times of disaster and continues to. This disaster is turning into more energy for the spirit of cooperation between Albania and Turkey."

Yoruk said that they are working hard to heal Albanians’ wounds from the 6.4 magnitude quake.

He added that humanitarian aid continues to arrive from Turkey.

"With our second aircraft, we brought heaters, portable beds, and personal care kits to meet the needs of disaster victims. Meanwhile, we also provide daily food to children and the elderly," said Yoruk.

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent brought 150 tents, 150 blankets, 300 portable beds, and 150 heaters via Turkish military aircraft.

The earthquake, which hit Durres, an Adriatic coastal city on Nov. 26, killed 51 people and injured more than 900.

Turkey's state aid agency the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has also delivered 500 food packages and 500 blankets to quake victims.

The aid was reportedly the first to arrive from any country since the quake.