VZCZCXRO4228
OO RUEHPOD
DE RUEHTI #0674/01 2081028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271028Z JUL 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6040
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEPGDA/USEUCOM JIC VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 3467
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 4401
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 3200
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 2975
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0652
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3190
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 3676
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0033
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2341
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0727
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0911
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0551

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000674 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC, SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE 
 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA, AID/W for OFDA Rob Andrew & Anne Convery 
GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO USAID AND RMA 
BUDAPEST PLEASE PASS TO USAID/RFMC 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: SENV EAID PREL AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA DISASTER DECLARATION 
 
REF:  A) TIRANA 662, B) TIRANA 664 
 
¶1.  I am declaring a disaster in Albania for the loss of property, 
loss of livelihoods, and the potential loss of life caused by heat 
wave-related wildfires currently raging throughout Albania, and I 
request USD 50,000 for immediate disaster relief from USAID/OFDA. 
The Government of Albania has made an official request for U.S. 
assistance to fight worsening wildfires throughout Albania.  Per 
reftels, I renew our request for any and all possible U.S. 
assistance, whether from State, DOD, USAID, USDA, or any other 
source. Specifically, the GOA has requested rotary or fixed-wing 
aircraft capable of extinguishing fires.  USG disaster relief 
resources will be used to help pay for critical aircraft to lift and 
drop water and other fire retardant material to support Albanian 
firefighters in order to bring under control the numerous fires 
located in remote areas which are difficult to reach by vehicles. 
The GOA is in receipt of one offer from a private (Czech) company 
which could provide firefighting aircraft to Albania for a fee.  The 
fee quoted by the GOA was approximately 40,000 Euro for four days 
use of the aircraft.  The GOA has a similar offer from a 
Swiss-German company. 
 
¶2.  Continuing severe heat and dryness are exacerbating the current 
fire situation, which has great potential to become worse, causing 
greater damage to livelihoods and loss of property if Albania does 
not receive additional assistance urgently. The Government of 
Albania (GOA) is doing all it can to bring the wildfires under 
control and protect property and lives, but the extent of the 
wildfires is unprecedented and GOA resources are not sufficient to 
adequately respond to this disaster.  Other countries in the region 
are not able to provide much assistance to Albania, as they are 
fighting similar fires in their countries.  We are not aware of any 
gratis assistance to Albania from other countries; the only offers 
of which we are aware involve payment for services. Therefore, the 
GOA is in need of immediate USG assistance to respond to the 
wildfires.  Albania is a staunch ally which has stood with us in 
Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of our actions in both 
countries, and it continues to augment its presence in both 
countries.  It is in the USG interest to provide assistance. 
Financial assistance will alleviate the increased burden on 
Albania's already overtaxed budget, which we have urged them to use 
toward defense and other reform efforts associated with Albania's 
NATO and EU aspirations. 
 
¶3.  Since mid-July, Albania has faced severe forest fires as a 
result of the high temperatures and dry conditions predominating in 
the region.  Fires have been active in 21 of the 36 districts of 
Albania.  No casualties have yet been reported, although there are 
reports that several civilians have suffered from smoke inhalation, 
which is raising concerns about health issues particularly for 
children and the elderly in the areas where fires are located.  The 
GOA's preliminary assessment is that some 2,000 hectares of forest 
have been destroyed and an additional 2,000 hectares of property may 
be destroyed without immediate foreign assistance in the next week. 
(NOTE:  This is sensitive information and has not been publicly 
released.)  Fifteen homes and four fire trucks have been destroyed 
thus far.  The economic impact has not been fully evaluated, but 
will increase as the fires continue. 
 
¶4.  The GOA's Civil Emergency Department reported 32 active fires on 
July 25, 2007.  This is an increase of 10 fires from the previous 
day and indicates that the number of fires is rapidly changing on a 
daily basis. The most serious fires were reported in the districts 
of Kolonja, (SE Albania); Vlora, (SW Albania); Puka, (Northern 
Albania); and Tropoja, (NE Albania).  Four large fires were reported 
on July 26 to be out of control in Erseke (Korce district), Gjallice 
(Kukes district), Valbona (Tropoje district), and Llogara (Vlore 
district).   A majority of military and police fire-fighting crews 
 
TIRANA 00000674  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
are trying to dig firebreaks to impede these particular fires.  The 
GOA is doubtful they will succeed without better equipment, in 
particular helicopters. 
 
¶5.  The GOA is responding with available resources consisting of 
military, police, firefighters and forest service personnel and 
equipment.  There are 1300 military personnel, 500 police forces and 
800 firefighters engaged in the effort to put down the fires. The 
likelihood of the first responders to succeed without external 
assistance, particularly critical aircraft support, is limited.  The 
situation will only become worse, requiring more resources to bring 
the fires under control.  The effort is being coordinated by an 
inter-ministerial group led by the Deputy Prime Minister.  The 
response is hampered by the rough topography surrounding the fires 
and the lack of appropriate equipment, such as airplanes and 
helicopters, to adequately address fighting the fires in remote 
areas not easily accessed by personnel and trucks. 
 
¶6.  The GOA is following the situation closely and has released an 
appeal to all institutions and international organizations present 
in Albania to provide assistance. The GOA has requested assistance 
in the form of emergency aircraft and helicopters for fire fighting 
operations. 
 
¶7.  I propose that the USG disaster relief assistance be used to pay 
for aircraft and/or helicopter rentals required to extinguish the 
fires or bring them under control.  U.S. Embassy in collaboration 
with USAID will coordinate with the GOA and other donors to avoid 
duplication of effort. 
CRISTINA