Brussels / Information Office / February 17

The State of Qatar has announced donating USD 5 million as a contribution to the reconstruction of the earthquake-affected areas in the Republic of Albania and to alleviate the serious humanitarian consequences of the damage caused by the earthquake.

The Announcement came in the speech of the State of Qatar, delivered Monday by HE Assistant to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, at the international donors' conference, "Together for Albania" hosted by the European Union (EU) to support the reconstruction efforts in Albania after the earthquake that struck the country at the end of November.

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama, European Council President Charles Michel and lineup of senior officials attended the conference.

HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater thanked the EU for hosting the conference; for its remarkable efforts towards the humanitarian crisis in Albania and for standing beside the Albanian people in their ordeal to overcome the humanitarian and negative repercussions that resulted from the devastating earthquake.

Al Khater said that the wide participation of the international community in this conference confirms the sincere international will to provide support to the government and people of the Republic of Albania to reconstruct the destroyed buildings and establishments. She stressed that the State of Qatar, as an active partner in the international community, has not and will not spare any effort to play its role in alleviating the suffering of the Albanian people, noting in this regard that the State of Qatar took the initiative, after the earthquake, and provided urgent relief assistance to the Albanian people valued at USD 500.

"Driven by the State of Qatar's keenness to continue fulfilling its humanitarian obligations towards the international community, I am pleased to announce that the State of Qatar has provided an amount of USD 5 million to contribute to the reconstruction of the earthquake-affected areas in the Republic of Albania and to alleviate the serious humanitarian consequences of the damage caused by this earthquake," she added.

Al Khater expressed appreciation for holding the conference and for all the countries and regional and international organizations participating in it to fulfill their moral and humanitarian obligations and stand by the Republic of Albania to face the effects of this earthquake.