The boosting of the Civil Protection System has long received the attention and commitment of the Ministry of Defense and the Albanian Government. The project "Strengthening Resilience in Albania", which was inaugurated this Friday by Defense Minister, Olta Xhaçka, and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Limya Eltayeb, will serve this purpose.
“The document we signed a little while ago is based on the needs assessment report, given by local experts and those from the European Union, the World Bank, and UNDP following the earthquake of November 26 last year. Never more than in those difficult days, has the opinion of domestic and foreign experts been more precious to improve the Civil Protection System, based on institutional coordination and cooperation, in developing a framework that enables the reduction of the risk of natural disasters, and the enhancement of preparatory and response capacities of structures dealing with natural disasters at central or local level.
Based also on this project, we will be able to draft new building codes, and which is the most important, we will carry out for the first time the Disaster Risk Assessment at the national level and consequently the National Strategy for disaster risk reduction and Standard operating procedures in case of disaster. Today, started up an ambitious project, that we at Ministry of Defense are proud, because in a few years, together with the drafted new law "On Civil Protection", the establishment of the National Agency for Civil Protection, the strengthening of the capabilities of the Armed Forces in the framework of civil emergencies, we are laying the foundation stones of one of the most important systems that protects what is most precious to each of us: life,” - said Minister Xhaçka.
Currently, UNDP is implementing two pilot initiatives at central and local level, namely the assessment of institutional capacities, involving important central institutions and cooperation with the Municipality of Lezha to develop its risk profile and local Civil Protection plan, thus enabling the ground for an escalation of preparedness and response efforts.
“Natural disasters have the power to reverse economic growth and achieved progress, increase the inequality of risk exposure, and hit the most those with greater economic and social hardships. Natural disasters have been and continue to be part of our reality and we will inevitably have a further exacerbation of these phenomena by climate change. Disaster risk reduction is related to the protection of human lives, poverty, businesses and livelihoods for us and future generations. In its capacity as a world development organization, UNDP promotes good governance and sustainable development, which focus on human beings under the motto 'Let no one be left behind'. Sustainability needs renewable capabilities. Disaster risk reduction is the only way to ensure that natural disasters do not derail sustainable development. Consequently, we have only one option: to prepare to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and, when they do occur, to be able to respond in time to save as many lives as possible. 'If fully implemented, we are confident that this program will mark a turning point in Disaster Risk Management for Albania.' - said Mrs. Limya Eltayeb, UNDP Resident Representative.
The project will also support Albania's efforts to become a full member of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in accordance with the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and the recommendations of the Needs after the Natural Disaster Assessment (NNDA) following the November 26 earthquake in Albania.
