TIRANA, Oct 4 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized today the necessity of involving the entire civil sector, both at the central and local levels, in firefighting preparedness efforts.
During the event on the new civil protection chapter through the transformation of the Firefighting Force and innovation in Farkë, attended by Defense Minister Pirro Vengu, Interior Minister Albana Koçiu, and Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo, Rama stated, “The current situation has vastly improved compared to when we first began these efforts, both in terms of equipment and uniforms.”
Rama highlighted the level of support available during the early years of civil emergencies, noting, “Our financial resources were extremely limited, we had many debts to repay, and numerous gaps to fill.”
He added, “Today, we have overcome financial shortfalls. We no longer have overdue debts from the troubled past we inherited, and now, with economic growth and increased revenues, we have the opportunity to reinvest more in those who serve the homeland—first and foremost those on the frontlines, facing the most difficult situations where human lives are at risk.”
Rama praised the extraordinary work of firefighters this year, noting, “This has been the most challenging year we have ever faced. It has also been the most difficult year for Europe and all our neighbouring countries.”
The Prime Minister emphasized, “It is essential that the entire civil sector, both at the central and local levels, be involved in this preparedness process.”
Rama also stated that work has begun on a reform of the prefectures, adding, “At the same time, this requires not only the continued strengthening and empowerment of prefectural capacities but also the enhancement of the capacities of municipalities and administrative units.”
The Prime Minister remarked, “During emergency operations, when firefighting and rapid intervention units—whose efforts this summer I particularly commend—alongside other military and police forces, are deployed, we see that at the local government and authority level, as well as among organized community forces, there is significant confusion, limited coordination, and a lack of clarity.”
He further noted, “By comparison, in Italy, every civil force representative on the ground during a natural disaster has a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities.”
Rama emphasized the need to “expand these capacities and enhance coordination.”
He further stated, “The Ministry of Interior should maintain a clear, updated map of all force deployments and incidents across the territory, while Civil Protection must ensure that everyone operating on the ground has access to this complete situational overview.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that “it is essential to engage both forestry services and schools, not just to raise awareness on sunny days when fires appear distant, but to ensure preparedness for the upcoming summer when fire risks will return. By consistently carrying out these ‘small tasks’ across forested areas, we can strengthen our capacities for fire response situations.
Rama announced a school-based educational initiative on fire safety and climate risks, involving the Ministry of Education, Armed Forces, State Police, and fire services, targeting students of all ages to raise awareness about climate change and preparedness.
/gj.m/sm/
