ALBANIA MINE ACTION EXECUTIVE ANNUAL REPORT Albania

Transcription

1 Albania ALBANIA MINE ACTION EXECUTIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2003 Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4)

2 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS No Chapter Page 1 Table of Contents 2 2 Executive Summary 5 3 General Background Mine Action Problem Socio-Economic Impact Impact on border management Albanian Response and Commitment APM Stockpile Destruction Programme Policy, Strategy And Advocacy 10 4 Project Objectives for Year Activities and Accomplishments Coordination and Capacity building Demining Operations Technical Survey IMSMA Mine Risk Education Victim Assistance 18 6 Public Awareness and Information Campaign 21 7 Training and Capacity Building International Meetings and Events National Meetings and Events 23 8 Partnership 24 9 Resource Mobilization Coordination and Cooperation with other Programmes 11 Bottlenecks encountered Financial Situation Conclusions 28 Annex A List of cleared lands handed over to the Communities of NE Albania in 2003 Annex B List of Priorities for Demining in 25 Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 2

3 2004 Annex C Maps of the Hazard Areas in NE Albania Annex D - Concept Paper for Victim Assistance in Albania Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 3

4 LIST OF ACRONYMS AAF - Albanian Armed Forces AMAE - Albanian Mine Action Executive AMAC - Albanian Mine Action Committee APM - Anti-Personnel Mines ARC - Albanian Red Cross AT - Anti Tank Mine CCW - Convention on Chemical Weapons DCA - Danish Aid Chuch DFID - Department for International Development DO - Deminig Organizations FSD - Swiss Foundation for Mine Action FYR - Former Yugoslavian Republic GICHD - Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining ICBL - International Campaign for Ban Landmines ICRC - International Committee of Red Cross IMAS - International Mine Action Standards IMSMA - Information Management System for Mine Action ITF - International Trust Fund MA - Mine Action MAC - Mine Action Center MDDT - Mine Detection Dogs Team MRE - Mine Risk Education NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization NE - North East NMAP - National Mine Action Plan QA - Quality Assurance QC - Quality Control QM - Quality Management SEEMACC - South East Europe Mine Action Centers Committee TS - Technical Survey TSS - Technical Safety Standards UNDP - United Nations Development Programme UNMAC - United Nations Mine Action Center in Kosovo UNMAS - United Nations Mine Action Service UNMIK - United Nations Mission in Kosovo UXO - Unexploded Ordnance VMA - Victims of Mines and Weapons Association Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 4

5 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY During the 1999 Kosovo conflict Former Yugoslav Republic forces laid mines and fired sub-munitions into Albanian territory. In addition to that, some NATO cluster strikes were conducted on Yugoslav positions on the border, causing unexploded ordnance within Albania. This contaminated an area of m 2 along the 120km border up to 20 km inside Albania. Thirty-nine villages with a population of 25,500 are directly affected in this area, with a population of 120,000 indirectly affected. Since 1999, 27 people have been killed and 220 injured from mines and UXO. Albania has ratified the AP Mine Ban Treaty and the Amended Protocol II to the CCW Convention and completed its APM Stockpile Destruction Programme in April The Albanian Mine Action Executive coordinates mine action activities and its objectives include building national capacities to deal with the mines and UXO threat, to clear mines and UXOs that threaten the lives and well-being of Albanian communities in the northeast along the border, to educate the affected population and to ensure the socio-economic reintegration of victims. In 2003, the capability of Albanian Mine Action Executive (AMAE) to effectively task, coordinate and monitor mine action was consolidated and in the same time to hand over to the communities in northeast Albania land previously surveyed and cleared by RONCO, HELP, FSD and DCA-ACT. Grassroots NGOs, particularly the Albanian Victims of Mines and Weapons Association (VMA), extended mine risk education to all affected communities with the support of UNICEF and the Albanian Red Cross leading to a decrease in mine/uxo accidents. ICRC and the US State Department through the International Trust Fund supported the treatment for thirty-four mine/uxo victims in Slovenia and at the Tirana Orthopedic Center. In addition, US State Department donated $100,000 to upgrade the surgical capability of the major hospital in the Northeast and VMA with US State Department support initiated a revolving fund for the anticipated socio-economic reintegration of the 220 victims. There is a significant mines and UXO threat in NE Albania, but also an increased awareness and commitment to solve the problem. The year 2002 Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 5

6 was the turning point for the Albania mine action program and 2003 was crucial in laying the basis for a national mine action programme. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 6

7 3. GENERAL BACKGROUND 3. 1 Mine Action Problem The extent of the MA problem includes minefields along the whole length of the Albanian-Kosovo border in the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje, laid by former Republic of Yugoslavia forces during the Kosovo crisis. After the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF) Level One Survey in 1999, 102 areas were identified, representing 15,250,000 m2. The threat includes AP and AT mines laid by FYR forces, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and sub-munitions from FYR rocket artillery and at least six NATO cluster strikes within Albanian territory. An added complication is that no records of minefields are available to Albania Socio - Economic Impact The population of Kukes prefecture, almost 120,000 of which 75% are rural, are of the poorest in Albania, if not in Europe. Thirty-nine villages are directly affected. The average size of farms is 1 ha and the main activities are grazing, farming, gathering firewood, and other subsistence livelihoods. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 7

8 Poverty and the pressure on land are further exacerbated by 75% mountainous terrain in the North, as well as the mines and UXO contamination. Although most people have been informed and educated about the mines threat, some are still killed and injured because of economic pressure to utilize contaminated land. The mines problem also has a serious impact on infrastructure development and the impact of the contamination on the environment should not be underestimated. Some water sources in NE Albania are still blocked by mined areas and the whole of the Albania/Kosovo border, prime land for eco-tourism development, is a wasteland because of mines and unexploded ordnance contamination. Already poor communities in NE Albania are seriously affected by mines/uxo A farmer was killed when his tractor detonated an anti-tank mine on the Albanian-Kosovo border Impact on border management A grave consequence of the mines is the added difficulty of patrolling the Albania/Kosovo border, where trafficking, and other crimes, takes place on a cross-border basis. Since the end of the Kosovo crisis, 13 police officers have already been wounded or killed by mines and UXO in the execution of their duties. Patrolling is almost impossible as it takes 1 to 2 hours to respond to a border incident due to mines and unexploded ordnance contamination. This is a weak point regarding integrated border management in South East Europe. It was reported from UNMIK that criminals have identified and cleared lanes through minefields, through which they pass unfettered to and from Kosovo, while police cannot respond effectively. 3.4 Albanian Response and Commitment During the emergency of 1997 in Albania, at least 15 Government ordnance depots were destroyed and looted countrywide, leaving tons of dangerous munitions scattered around, threatening the lives of civilians. It is reported Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 8

9 that up to 2,000 persons were killed or seriously injured as a result of this emergency. The AAF started clearing up the 15 so-called Hot Spots in 1998 and is still in the process of mopping up the last remnants of that. After the Kosovo crisis in 1999, the Albanian Government responded swiftly in conducting rapid surface clearance, which drastically reduced civilian casualties. This was, however, not done to International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and all the areas have to be re-cleared. Shortly after that, the AAF conducted a Level 1 Survey, which indicated virtually the total border area to be contaminated. Towards the end of 1999 the Albanian Government decided to adopt IMAS and established a structure to implement humanitarian mine action. In order to adequately coordinate mine action, an inter-ministerial body - the Albanian Mine Action Committee (AMAC) - was formed in October This body is the overall executive and policy - making body for mine action. The Deputy Minister of Defense chairs it with membership drawn from the Ministries of Environment, Local Government and Decentralization, Health, Public Order, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Economy as well as the UNDP Resident Representative, UNICEF, ICRC and the major donors. The terms of reference for the AMAC include the following: To provide the national focus of mine action. To seek donor funding and assistance to the de-mining programme. To prioritise de-mining efforts in Albania. To sensitise the international community to the mines threat in Albania. Ratify the Ottawa treaty through destruction of the stockpile of antipersonnel mines. At the same time, an operational body - the Albanian Mine Action Executive (AMAE) - was established to carry out the mine action programme under direction of the AMAC. Its functions are: Produce and maintain a mine action programme. Coordination, oversight and monitoring of all mine action activities inline with AMAC priorities. Accreditation, validation and quality management of mine action activities. Collection collation, maintenance and dissemination of mines and UXO related data and statistics. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 9

10 Monitor and report on de-mining progress. Survey and marking of mine contaminated areas. Produce and maintain mine action procedures based on UN Standards. Investigate all mine related incidents and accidents. Liaison with external mine action bodies APM Stockpile Destruction Programme Albania ratified the Ottawa Treaty on 29 February 2000 and the Stockpile Destruction Project commenced 15 January 2001 with Canadian assistance. Demilitarisation was based on reverse assembly and recycling was a major aspect. The last anti-personnel mine (APM) of 1,683,860, was demilitarised on 4 April 2002, 2 years ahead of obligatory period in terms of Ottawa Treaty. The benefits of the project to the region are: Albanian compliance with Article 4 of the Ottawa Treaty. Elevation of the status of Albania as a responsible party to the Ottawa Treaty. Increased national and regional security. The socio-economic benefits for the people of Albania. Enhancement of demilitarization capabilities in the region. Albania is setting the pace regarding APM stockpile destruction in South Eastern Europe Policy, Strategy and Advocacy A national workshop was held in June 2002, formulating vision, mission, priorities and 3-yr plan. The essential elements of the plan are: Vision - Albania free from mines and unexploded ordnance by Mission - Develop and implement a sustainable mine action programme in order to eliminate the effect of mines and unexploded ordnance in Northeast Albania by Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 10

11 The national MA workshop formulating vision and mission of NMAP The Goals of the Albanian Mine Action Programme are: Create a legal framework and policy for mine action by 31 December Implement mine action policy, the strategic plan and priorities for mine action by 31 December Develop and implement a national mine action database by 31 August 2003 and maintain it then on a continuous basis. Clearing all of the high and medium priority mine and UXO contaminated areas in NE Albania by the end of Implement a strategy to raise awareness for the mine action situation on the Northeast border of Albania by 31 December Rehabilitate and reintegrate the priority mine and UXO victims (permanent disability) by Establish a credible and sustainable national mine action capability by Mobilise adequate resources to achieve the mine action mission by December In 2004 the policy level priorities will be to regularise activities of AMAC, formulation and ratification of a comprehensive mine action policy and to pass national legislation in terms of Article 9 of the Ottawa Treaty. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 11

12 4. PROJECT OBJECTIVES FOR YEAR 2003 Albanian mine action structure institutionalized. Albanian mine action structure managing and coordinating all aspects of mine action. International mine action obligations honored. National mine action plan implemented. All stakeholders in agreement with the objectives of the NMAP. Associated mine action strategies (mine awareness and victim assistance) implemented: - Thirty-nine affected villages reached with MRE. - Fifty percent of victims adequately treated and 20% integrated into society. The Albanian Mine Action Programme focused on the most vulnerable target groups, i.e. women and the poor. Formerly contaminated land in NE Albania handed back to communities. All impact surveys of NE Albania completed Operational plan for 2003 implemented. Regional office capable of managing QM, coordination and liaison in NE Albania. Assist with QC (quality control, sampling, according to ISO 9000) tasks Operational Plan for 2004 formulated. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 12

13 5. ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 5.1 Capacity building and coordinati on A UNDP capacity building programme commenced in April 2002, funded for 21 months by UNDP, ITF and DFID. AMAC is assisted in the formulation of policy, strategy, a national mine action plan and priorities for mine action. Assistance to AMAE entails the establishment of a sustainable structure capable of coordinating all mine action in Albania. To this effect, the UNDP employed two technical advisors, one Chief Technical Advisor and an in-kind Operations Advisor from the Swiss General Staff. AMAC was assisted with advice on policy, strategy and legal structures and priorities for mine action, to achieve the strategic objective. A fully functional AMAE was established with UNDP, EU and ITF assistance, including an integral quality management (QM) Section with a regional office in North East Albania. A complete set of AMAE Technical & Safety Standards (TSS s), based on IMAS, was introduced. AMAE prepared by 30 April 2003 on behalf of the Albanian Government the Article 7 Report of the Ottawa Convention for submission to UN Secretary - General Mr. Kofi Annan. The QM Section of AMAE, initially consisting of 3 persons, was established in June 2002 and further expanded in 2003 with another 2 persons to provide for a larger workload as a result of the technical survey project. The QM Personnel underwent specialist QM training until September It then deployed for the first time to conduct quality assurance (QA, monitoring) and quality control (QC, sampling) of all mine action activities, including demining. It conducts these responsibilities in terms of the IMAS, which is based on ISO 9000 and ISO As no QM was conducted in Albania before September 2002, it had to catch up on all demining tasks even those completed before Until now it conducted Quality Assurance on numerous survey and clearance tasks and 680,063.5 m2 of land cleared by the Demining Organizations have been quality controlled by QM team out of which 637, 613 m2 have been formally handed over to the communities. A list of the cleared areas formally handed over to the communities is at annex A. It is estimated that all land cleared up to the end of 2003 will be certified and properly handed over to communities by April Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 13

14 The capacity building priorities for the coming year are to optimize operations/imsma (Information Management System for Mine Action) integration and conduct further in-service training of the QM Team on quality assurance and quality control. Management training of AMAE staff is also a high priority, including middle management training of managers, exchange of managers with other MAC s and study tours to neighboring MAC s. Lastly, AMAE will be assisted to effect the completion of the impact and technical surveys of NE Albania, as well as with the monitoring of clearance and training standards Demining Operations Before 2002, RONCO, HELP and Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) conducted demining in Albania. It is estimated that approximately 2 million m2 of mined land was released by these organizations from Since 2002, Danish Church Aid (DCA-ACT) and FSD are deployed for demining in Albania, mostly with Danish, EC, US, Luxembourg, Swiss, Czech Republic and German funding. With increased coordination and more efficient utilization of demining assets, more than 7,000,000 m2 of formerly contaminated land was released through survey and clearance during Prodding Drill Bozena and mine detection dogs demonstration In 2003, the demining assets of FSD and DCA were expanded to 3 survey teams, 8 manual demining teams, a Bozena I mini-flail, an ML-1 medium flail donated by the US State Department and 1 mine detection dog team (MDDT) funded by the Czech Government. With these resources, 90% of the impact surveys were completed only leaving those in close proximity to the Montenegro border, 310,800 m2 were cleared and a total of 1,110,401 m2 released. Following are the monthly production figures of both demining organizations for 2003: Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 14

15 FSD(detailed) April May June July August September October November Total Clearance IS ,000,490 TS BAC Ground preparation Verification Area reduction(ts) AP Mines UXO DCA(detailed) April May June July August September October November Total Clearance IS TS BAC MDD Clearance MDD T. Survey AP Mines AP Mines(Cache) UXO UXO(Cache) Goals for 2004: Impact survey of NE Albania completed. Technical survey of NE Albania 60% completed. Land cleared until the end of 2003 handed over to communities. Land cleared in 2004 handed over to communities. 480,000 m2 mines and UXO contaminated land cleared in Technical Survey UNDP started the implementation of a EU funded technical survey project in August 2003 to be completed by the end of The aim of the Technical Survey Project is to accurately delineate all of the minefields and battle areas in NE Albania and thereby contributing to the overall mission of the Albanian Mine Action Programme of freeing NE Albania from mines and UXO by Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 15

16 A Technical Survey Organisation is planned to be established consisting of 6 manual technical survey teams, 2 MDDT s and one mechanical survey team. The technical survey will be managed by the management team of the UNDP mine action programme and coordinated by the Albanian Mine Action Executive (AMAE). The tender for execution was awarded to Handicap International France. The technical survey organization will be converted into a national demining organization in 2005, funding will be secured, demining priorities will be determined and demining tasks will be issued. By completing the technical survey project, minefields and battle areas will be accurately defined, they can be marked and communities informed of their proximity and dangers. Resource mobilization can be focused on accurate estimations of the threat and scarce clearance resources can be tasked to clear according to priorities and suitability of assets. This, again, will lead to the following benefits: a measure of integrated border management on the Albania/Kosovo border will be restored; civilian casualties can be avoided; and cost-effective utilization of clearance assets 5.4 IMSMA A functional Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) Cell was established during 2003 with ITF and Swiss support and the database was populated with up to date mine action information. Albanian maps were georeferenced from Krassowsky projection to UTM 34 projection with EU and ITF support. An Albanian IT Chief was appointed, an internal information quality management system was implemented and IMSMA updated to Version 3. During the 2003 maxml was installed at AMAE offices. The database was in monthly basis updated in two Demining Organizations DCA and FSD and technical support was provided. In the regional context, an agreement was reached between the Albanian Government and the ITF regarding information exchange and support was provided to other Mine Action Centers (Kosovo, Macedonia and Azerbaijan). In the year ahead, efforts will be focused to ensure full Operations/IMSMA, database management training and the establishment of an effective IMSMA capability at the regional office. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 16

17 5.5 Mine Risk Education (MRE) Most of the 39 directly affected communities were reached by the end of 2001, but people were still being killed and injured by mines and UXO, the most recent in January The physical delineation of known mine and UXO contaminated territory along the Albania-Kosovo border has been problematic due to: Constant theft of minefield marking post. (This is due to a shortage of fencing materials and fuel in the mine affected areas). Inclement weather during winter months preventing access to mined areas. Lack of resources AMAE and CARE International completed a survey of MRE activities in 2002 carried out in the three districts of Kukes. The overall results showed a good level of MRE coverage throughout the area, but that target groups and themes had to be adjusted. The MRE strategy was therefore revised in The framework of the strategy is: Vision - To prevent all mine and UXO incidents in NE Albania. Strategic objective - AMAE/AMAC is to direct and coordinate the implementation of the MRE Strategy in NE Albania forthwith as an integral part of the AMAP in order to effectively reach all targeted groups by Target groups were readjusted and it was decided to concentrate on the following in 2004: Focus on economically active group and remote villages. Do further assessment of gender issues relating to women as a potential target group. Implement an effective way to permanently mark mined and battle areas. Raise awareness of mine action problem nationally and internationally. Implement an integrated structure to involve all of the implementing partners including AMAE, UNICEF, ICRC, Albanian Red Cross, the Victims of Mines and Weapons Association, (LNGO), demining organizations and the village Anti-mining Committees. Implement a more durable and permanent minefield marking system. Victims of Mines and Weapons Association (a local NGO) and ICRC/ARC have been widely involved in Mine Risk Education. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 17

18 Promotion materials have been distributed by ARC in the affected areas such: leaflets, posters, table games Be aware of mines notebooks for pupils, pocket- books for adults with messages on the mines risks, calendars etc. The Mine awareness coordinators and instructors have established permanent relations with the Demining Organizations. VMA also implemented a project funded by ITF and UNICEF for providing MRE in 39 contaminated villages of Northeastern Albania. In framework of this project the following was achieved: 39 Anti-mine committees in 39 mine affected villages. 429 MRE sessions by MRE Field Monitors. 30 Active Peace Activists in 30 schools. 2 Training Session for MRE Education with Anti-Mine committees posters/leaflets produced and distributed. Mobile theatre with MRE Sessions / 69 concerts given for communities A book with Safety Messages was prepared and distributed. 70 Manuals for MRE for Anti-Mine committees prepared and distributed. 15 Manuals for MRE for Anti-Mine committees and for MRE Field Monitors. MRE Theater in mine affected areas 5.6 Victim assistance In 2003, 3 prostheses technicians, 1 physiotherapist and 3 surgeons were trained with ITF support and the US State Department donated $100,000 Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 18

19 worth of surgical equipment to the Kukes Hospital. 14 victims were treated and prostheses fitted in Albania with ICRC assistance and 20 victims received advanced treatment and fitment of prostheses at the Slovenian Rehabilitation Institute with US State Department funding through the ITF. A revolving fund was set up with US State Department funding. This fund will be utilized for the economic rehabilitation of victims through viable household economies. A broad integrated victim assistance strategy was adopted in Albania during The strategic framework is as follows: Strategic objective - To build a sustainable Albanian mine action capability by Objectives: Fitment of prostheses to priority lower limb amputees in Albania. Fitment of prostheses to upper limb amputees abroad (Slovenia). Rehabilitation of sight impaired victims abroad. Building the capacity of Albanian institutions to fit all types of prostheses and orthoses in Albania by Building a victim rehabilitation capacity in Albania by Building a capacity in NE Albania to surgically treat trauma and amputee victims and serve as a level three medical facility for victims of demining accidents. Economic reintegration of mine victims through a micro-financing scheme. Social and educational reintegration of child victims. The victim assistance planning from 2004 is to establish an Albanian capacity by A concept paper on developing a Sustainable Survivor Assistance Capacity in Albania has been prepared by AMAE and is at Annex D. Young mine victim in the Albanian rehabilitation programme Beehives procured with funds borrowed from the revolving fund Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 19

20 Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4)

21 6. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN The Albania mine action brochure has been updated and distributed. In addition, two donor tours, in June and September 2003, to handover the cleared land to the communities were arranged by AMAE and assisted by the DO s. These visits took place in North East Albania and various dignities participated from the Albanian Government, various Embassies and international agencies. Demonstrations of the Mine Detection Dogs and Bozena operations were provided by the Demining Organizations. The local media broadcasted these visits extensively. Two documentaries on mine action programme were aired by Top Channel and Voice of America. AMAE hosted in the first week of April a US State Department film crew, who prepared a documentary on Mine Action in Albania. 7. TRAINING The management training for the following senior AMAE staff: The Operations Officer, Mine Awareness and Victim Assistance Officer and Chief IT was arranged with UNDP BCPR but none realized yet. At least two exchanges with middle managers of other mine action centers planned for 2003 is arranged with UNDP BCPR but postponed to A regional IMSMA training was organized in AMAE Tirana office with the cooperation of GICHD (Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining) from 1 to 14 March Participants from Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania Mine Action centers successfully attended this course. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 21

22 AMAE Admin Associate attended Accounting-training course conducted from KPMG Albania from 14 July to 1 August IMSMA Regional Training held in Tirana from1 14 March International Meetings and Events On 2 8 February 03, the Chief Technical Advisor and the AMAE Director attended the convention of anti-personnel mines organized in Geneva, Switzerland On February 03, the CTA and AMAE Director attended the SEEMACC meeting held in Belgrade On March 03, the CTA and AMAE Director attended the MA Country Directors and UN Program Managers Meeting, organized in Geneva On March 03, the CTA and AMAE director attended the SEMMACC meeting organized in Ljubliana, Slovenia On May 03, the CTA and AMAE Director attended the MASG (Mine Action Support Group) meeting in Ljubliana, Slovenia On 9-11 June 03, AMAE Director attended the Ninth SEEMACC Meeting in Ljubliana On September 03, AMAE Director attended the 5 th meeting of the States Parties to Ottawa Convention held in Bangkok, Thailand On October 03, the CTA and AMAE Director participated to the event organized in the occasion of the first anniversary of RCUD (Regional Center for Underwater Demining) in Bijela, Monte Negro On November 03, the CTA and AMAE Director attended the 11 th Session of the Board of Advisors of ITF in Ljubliana, Slovenia Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 22

23 7.2. National Meetings and Events On 5-8 November 03, the CTA, AMAE Director, IT Associate, Operations officer, Operations Associate and Admin Associate attended the MA end of the year retreat organized in Kotorr, Monte Negro with participation also of all Mine Action Partners. Operational and Coordination Meetings were conducted monthly with the attendance of all partners involved in mine action. On January 03, AMAE Operations Officer and GIS Specialist conducted a refreshment training of AMAE Kukes Regional Staff on Operational and GIS Procedures On February 03, the Operations Officer and the Operations Associate accompanied an EC delegation visiting the mine fields in North East Albania On February 03, the Mine Awareness and Victim Assistance Officer accompanied ICBL representatives visiting the mine victims and health authorities of Kukes and Has districts On February 03, the Operations Officer organized a meeting with the representatives of Kukes Local Government On 7-9 March 03, the AMAE CTA and AMAE Director convened several meetings with UNMACC, DCA and Head of Kukes Prefecture On March 03, the IT Associate installed the new version of IMSMA at the Regional Kukes office and FSD Kukes office. On 7-10 April 03, the Operations Officer and Mine Awareness Officer met with the representatives of Kukes Local Government On Apr il 03, AMAE Director organized a meeting with the community leaders of Kukes, Has and Tropoja Districts On April 03, the AMAE CTA, Operation Officer and QM Team Leader accredited in Gjakova the DCA MDDT On 5-8 May 03, the Mine Awareness and Victim Assistance Officer accompanied the doctors coming from the Slovenian Institute of Rehabilitation to visit the mine victims in the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoja On 6-7 May 03, the AMAE CTA and AMAE Director had a meeting with KFOR discussing on the medical evacuation procedures for AMAE QM Team On May 03, the Operations Officer had a meeting with the local authorities of Stoberda commune On May 03, the IT Officer and IMSMA Specialist updated the IMSMA database of Kukes Regional Office and Demining Organizations Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 23

24 On June 03, the Mine Awareness and Victim Assistance Officer accompanied the representative of Swedish demining and EOD Center Mr. Magnus Sedic in various meetings in Gjakova and Kukes On 30 June-1 July 03, the AMAE CTA, AMAE Director, Mine Awareness Officer, Operations Associate and Admin Associate participated to the Handover Ceremony of the cleared lands On September 03, the CTA and Mine Awareness Officer had a meeting with the American Contingent in Kosova for Medevac Procedures On September 03, the AMAE CTA, AMAE Director, Mine Awareness Officer and Operations Associate participated to the Handover Ceremony of the cleared lands in North East Albania On 6-7 October 03, the Mine Awareness Officer accompanied the visitors from CGTVA Center visiting the mine fields and mine victims in North East Albania 8. PARTNERSHIP The project is implemented within the Albanian mine action structure. The line ministry is the Ministry of Defense. The Albanian Mine Action Committee (AMAC), consisting of representatives from the Ministries of Defense (Chair), Public Order, Health, Local Government, Foreign Affairs, UNDP and major donors, is the overall policy-making body, but its activities have yet to be regularized. The Albanian Mine Action Executive is responsible for the coordination of mine action in Albania. The activities of mine action in Albania are now fully coordinated by AMAE and monthly coordination meetings are held. MRE is coordinated with UNICEF, KFOR and the Albanian Red Cross and victim assistance with the ICRC, Tirana Orthopaedic Center and the Slovenian Center for Rehabilitation. Bi-monthly meetings of the South-East Europe Mine Action Coordination Council (SEEMACC) were attended by both AMAE and the Programme Manager UNDP Mine Action. Representatives of AMAE have been appointed to the Training Committee, Committee on Mechanical Demining, the SEEMACC newsletter and the SEEMACC website. Regular contact is maintained with mine action programmes in Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan and Slovenia through SEEMACC. 9. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION Two donor tours to handover the cleared land to the communities were arranged by AMAE and assisted by the DO s, and took place in Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 24

25 NE Albania in June and September The response of the donors to these initiatives was very positive. The US Embassy organized a fund raising activity Night of a Thousand Dinners in December A total fund of $ was collected which will be utilized for the benefit of child mine victims. Resource mobilization visits were conducted to the British, Dutch, German, Czech and US Embassies. The EU funded a 2 million Euro project, which is being implemented by UNDP. Albania completed its input to the UNMAS Mine Action Portfolio for The US State Department donated a ML-1 medium flail to the programme. $93,000 from the US State Department and UNICEF were allocated to the VMA for MRE was the first year s funding of $79,000 from the US State Department for a revolving fund for the socio-economic reintegration of mine victims. This project is also implemented by the VMA and it is expected that the fund can be extended to other needy families after the needs of the victims have been addressed. About $100,000 worth of surgical equipment to establish an orthopaedic surgical capability was donated by ITF/US State Department, which will not only serve mine victims, but other patients as well. 10. COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER CO PROGRAMMES The Albanian Mine Action Executive has cooperated with other CO programmes as LGP, SSSR, in exchanging assistance and information on the Mine Action in North East Albania. Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 25

26 AMAE has provided its input to the Kukes Regional Development Strategy prepared by LGP on mines risk and impact in areas of North East Albania. In November 2003 our Operations Officer was requested by the SSSR to train police officers in using metal detectors that were donated by SSSR to the Albanian Ministry of Public Order. Digital Maps of North East Albania were made available to the Disaster Management Programme. 11. BOTTLENECKS ENCOUNTERED The ratification from the Albanian Government of the Albanian Humanitarian Demining Law. 75% of mine and battle areas is in harsh mountainous terrain. 12. FINANCIAL SITUATION Previous and current donors for overall Mine Action Programme include UNDP, EU, DFID, ICRC, Canadian, Czech Republic, Danish, German, Italian, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Swiss, Turkish and US Governments. ACTIVITY Funds given on 2003 Funds inherited by 2002 Total Budget 2003 Capacity Building and Coordination of mine action (Implemented by UNDP) DFID $150,418 UNDP $100,000 ITF $32,215 DFID $33,317 UNDP $89,318 $ 405,268 Victim Assistance ITF/US State Department $ $ 263,000 MRE $93,000 $ 93,000 Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 26

27 REPORTOFEXPENSESFROM1JANUARY-31DECEMBER2003BudgetDescriptionTotalBudget2003TotalExpenses2003PROJECTPERSONNEL InternationalConsultants AdministrativeSupport NationalConsultants MONITORINGANDEVALUATION TravelCosts CONTRACTS AMAEOficeRent RegionalOficeRent MineAwareness/PublicRelations TRAINING TrainingofAMAEstaf00Workshops00MgmtTrgforAMAESeniorStaf EQUIPMENT OficeSupplies OficeEquipment IMSMAEquipment764764OPERATIONS OperationsandMaintenance AMAEOficeOperationsCosts RegionalOficeOperationsCosts MISCELLANEOUS PublicationCosts165165Sundries DIRECTEXECUTIONFEE DEXfee UNDPCommunicationCosts GRANDTOTAL Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4)

28 13. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant mines and UXO threat in NE Albania, but also an increased awareness and commitment to solve the problem. The year 2002 was the turning point for the Albania mine action program and 2003 was crucial in laying the basis for a national mine action programme. Albania can now set the pace in the region on issues such as stockpile destruction and IMSMA training. The focus next year will be on accurately determining the extent of the mines and UXO problem and implementing the transition strategy to realize the strategic objective of Albania free from the effect of mines and UXO by Address: Rr. Dervish Hima, Nr. 41, Tirane, Tel (4) amaealbania@amae.org.al 28