{"id":106688,"date":"2019-12-02T16:17:31","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T15:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=106688"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:35","slug":"eur-students-start-aid-effort-for-survivors-of-albanian-earthquake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/12\/02\/eur-students-start-aid-effort-for-survivors-of-albanian-earthquake\/","title":{"rendered":"EUR students start aid effort for survivors of Albanian earthquake"},"content":{"rendered":"

The associations for Eastern European (EESA) and Turkish (Mozaik) students at Erasmus University have launched a joint aid effort<\/a> to help survivors of the earthquake in Albania. On 14 December, EESA secretary Denisa Kasa will be returning to her native city of Durr\u00ebs to transfer the collected funds and goods. Denisa: \u201cIt\u2019s important to me that our donations end up with the people who really need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

On Tuesday, Albania was shook by an earthquake that measured 6.4 on the Richter scale \u2013 the worst earthquake in this region in decades. At least 650 people were injured and 42 people have died. The port city of Durr\u00ebs was hit particularly hard. Aid workers continue to search for survivors in the rubble of the collapsed buildings there.<\/p>\n

Denisa\u2019s family and friends are keeping her up to date on the situation in her home town. \u201cHalf the city is in ruins. Many of the buildings that didn\u2019t collapse during the quake have been declared uninhabitable,\u201d she says. \u201cA lot of people have become homeless as a result.\u201d The city is regularly hit by aftershocks. \u201cYesterday, there was another quake that measured 5.3 on the Richter scale,\u201d continues Denisa. \u201cEven Durr\u00ebs Castle in the old town has been damaged by the quake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Removal boxes<\/h2>

You can find ten removal boxes full of clothing, toiletries and blankets lined up in the office of the student association EESA. \u201cWe hope these items can help the survivors of the quake in Durr\u00ebs to get through the winter,\u201d says International Business Administration student Denisa. The two associations have collected all sorts of things that could come in handy: from winter clothing and shoes \u2013 both for adults and children \u2013 to blankets, toiletries, nappies and sanitary pads. \u201cBut the main thing is money, because the logistics company has set a maximum weight for the goods we\u2019ll be sending over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going to Durr\u00ebs herself<\/h2>

So far, the student associations have collected nearly two thousand euros<\/a>. \u201cWe didn\u2019t expect to raise this much so soon,\u201d says Denisa. \u201cThe response was overwhelming \u2013 particularly when you consider most of the donations actually come from students.\u201d<\/p>\n

The removal boxes will be collected Friday next week by the logistics company Mission & Relief Logistics. Although they will be picked up locally by an NGO, Denisa wants to ensure that the articles end up in the right hands. In mid-December, she will be travelling to Durr\u00ebs to work as a volunteer for four weeks. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to simply hand over the donations to an NGO, because we believe it is important to make sure items end up with the people who really need them,\u201d explains Denisa. \u201cI feel a very strong personal involvement because I grew up there. I feel responsible for ensuring our efforts have a maximum impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

The associations will be keeping the donors up to date on developments via social media<\/a>, says Denisa. \u201cWe want to show people \u2013 by sharing pictures, for example \u2013 that their contributions have made a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t

You can donate money via the effort\u2019s GoFundMe page<\/a>\u00a0until the end of 10 December. People who want to donate items can drop them off at the offices of EESA (PT-070) or Mozaik (PT-006) in the P Building until the evening of 5 December.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t