Albania: 300 Munition Victim Families Assisted
 DAI, through its local partner organisations, is assisting 300 families (1,200 persons) whose houses were (partly or completely) destroyed by the accidental munitions explosions at a military facility near the capital city of Tirana, the capital of Albania. The families are assisted with food and clothing.
On Saturday, March 15, an explosion occurred at an ex-military ammunition depot in the village of Gerdec, about 14 km outside Tirana. The explosion was so strong that it was heard even in Skopje, 170 km away!
The first explosion occurred around noon, whereafter a huge fire broke out setting off a series of exlosions that continued until around 2 a.m. Sunday, the following day. The main explosion destroyed hundreds of houses a few kilometers from the depot. Thousands of artillery shells, most of them unexploded, littered the area. The blast shattered all the windows of the terminal building at the country's only international airport.
At least 20 people died and more than 350 people were injured, including women and children. More than 130 remained hospitalized. About 3000 people left without shelter. Many businesses were destroyed along the highway from Tirana to Durres.
DAI will provide relief assistance for 1 month whereafter the situation will be reviewed and additional assistance will be given should it be necessary.
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