Albania, 24 July 2020. In response to the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic in Albania, today, IOM handed over 55,182 pieces of personal protective equipment against COVID-19 worth 20,266 US Dollars to Albania’s Department of Border and Migration Police. The donation has been made possible thanks to the generous contribution of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the project “Countering Smuggling of Migrants along the Western Balkan Coastal Route”.

The handover ceremony took place in the premises of the General Directorate of the Albanian State Police. The donation includes gloves, masks, face shield, hand sanitizer, disinfection pumps etc., which will be used by border police officers and personnel working at migrant reception centres and border crossing points. “We are very grateful to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IOM for this equipment, which will contribute to protect front-line workers and ensure we can continue provide services to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in a safe manner” said the Director of Department for Border and Migration Police.

Since December 2018, the project “Countering Smuggling of Migrants along the Western Balkan Coastal Route”  contributed to increased regional cooperation between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and enhanced the capacities of law enforcement authorities and the judiciary to apprehend, investigate and prosecute cases of smuggling of migrants, and protect migrants along the Western Balkan coastal route. Based on careful assessment of the situation on the ground and feedback received from stakeholders, and in light of the global development of the pandemic in March 2020, the Project assessed that a successful delivery of the remaining project activities would be at serious risk and requested a reprograming to support border police agencies in Albania, BiH and Montenegro in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. The request was kindly granted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Project went on to support the efforts of border police agencies in Albania, BiH and Montenegro in addressing the new COVID -19 related challenges they are facing by addressing the shortages of personal protective equipment and enhancing border police officers’ knowledge, skills and tools to allow for continuation of border controls while minimizing the risk of infection and transmission of any disease, including COVID-19.

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For further information on the project, please contact IOM Albania on infotirana@iom.int