OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Albania: Ammunition Depot Explosion
27 March 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

- GOA indicates that the immediate emergency relief phase is over and the 
focus is now on the medium to long term needs.

- Initial GoA damage assessment indicates that the cost of reconstructing 
damaged houses and businesses only will be in the region of 15 million 
Euros.

- A medium-term solution in relation to the housing of the displaced 
population needs to be identified while the long-term reconstruction takes 
place.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. The overall situation in the Disaster Zone is now quiet and under 
control. EOD clearance operations are continuing on site. It is reported 
that there are sufficient resources currently in the country to complete 
the initial surface clearing operation.

2. According to official figures from the GoA on 20 March, a total of 
4,200 houses are reported damaged with details as follows:





  Destroyed           408
  Heavily Damaged     400
  Partially Damaged  3392


3. The official numbers of reported deaths and injuries from the Albanian 
National Emergency Operations Centre is as follows:

    Deaths    22
    Injured  300


4. The Ministry of Interior has stated that the immediate emergency relief 
phase is over and that short term needs have been covered in terms of 
shelter, food and non-food items. The GoA has made it clear that its 
priorities are now focused on the medium to long term recovery activities.

5. UNOSAT prepared a snapshot of the imagery and ongoing work. They are 
amidst creating a map for the identified High Risk Zone of 800m, having 
identified all buildings within this zone (approx 240), craters left from 
the explosion and the primary direction of the blast. Due to the 
resolution, it is possible only to identify a few areas of significant 
building destruction.

6. EOD clearance operations are continuing on site and it is reported that 
there are sufficient resources currently in the country to complete the 
initial surface clearing operation. However it is likely that the GoA will 
require external, specialist assistance in clearing the area of the actual 
explosion site, which is heavily contaminated.

7. It is estimated that the cost of construction and rehabilitation of 
damaged houses and businesses will be in the region of 15 million Euros. 
This estimated cost does not include the rehabilitation of damaged 
infrastructure such as water and power supplies, public buildings and 
roads.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=03EF521771112533492574190003D730&file=Full_Report.pdf


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