Donors commit $1.63 billion to Albania quake relief

International donors have committed over a billion euros in relief for Albania in the wake of last year's earthquake.

The European Union (EU) led the pledging of aid at a special conference gathering funds to rebuild anything from homes and businesses to hospitals which were destroyed in the November 26 quake.

In all 51 people were killed and 17,000 left homeless.

The EU's Commission and its member states together pledged some 400 million euros (433 million US dollars).

The meeting brought together donor countries from as far away as the United States, Canada and Israel.

"Today we exceeded all expectations," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of the total pledge of 1.15 billion euros (1.63 billion US dollars).

"This is beyond my wildest imagination and expectation,” said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the end of the conference.