DanChurchAid
Humanitarian Mine Action
Humanitarian Mine Action in Albania
Mine problem and context
While Kosovo received vast international assistance during the Kosovo conflict in 1998/1999, Albania was almost completely ignored. The problem of contamination has been assessed as severe in certain border areas and especially so because it affects an already desperately poor population of around 120,000, all heavily dependent on the contaminated land.
For more information about the landmine problem in Albania as well as the country's response to the contamination, please view country pages on Landmine Monitor, Albania .
DanChurchAid response in Albania
Mine Clearance continues in Albania:
In the fall of 2006, the majority of the DCA Albania mine clearance programme was closed down, and only six teams out of 15 were retained to continue the mine clearance operations. This event was celebrated with a ceremony where the DCA General Secretary symbolically blew up the ‘last mine’ for DCA in Albania.
In 2007, six demining teams continued the work in Albania under the supervision of two DCA international staff, and the process of nationalization of the national capacity was further enhanced. The national capacity will continue the demining until the end of 2009, under supervision of an international DCA Programme Manager.
Clearance has been ongoing throughout 2007, and funds from GFFO and US DoS through ITF have made it possible for the programme to continue the clearance efforts until at least the beginning of 2009. With the increase from six to eight teams in 2008 and 2009, DCA can still help Albania fulfill the obligations under the mine ban treaty.
Donors
- US State Department – Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (via ITF)
- Czech Republic (via ITF)
- Germany (via ITF)
- Luxembourg (via ITF)
- EU & UNDP (via ITF)
- DFID
- DFAIT
- DCA private funds
- DCA Lars & Lone campaign.
More Information
Read about the Cooperation between DanChurchAid and the Danish Military
Read how DanChurchAid assists in cleaning up the Gerdec explosion site
Contact us
To receive more information on the DCA programme in Albania, please contact DCA HMA Team in Copenhagen, Signe Noermose at sno@dca.dk
