HOST NATION SUPPORT (HNS)

Floods in Albania

MAY 2015

Legal Basis Albanian System of Protection against Natural and other Disasters q 

The constitution of the Republic of Albania - is the political and juridical starting point-for organizing CE.

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National Security Strategy.

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Law No. 8756, dated 26.03.2001 ‘‘On Civil Emergencies’’.

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Law No. 8766, dated 05.04.2001 “On the protection and rescue from fire”.

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National Civil Emergency Plan, No. 835, dated 03.01 2004.

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Disaster Risk Assessment in Albania.

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Number of Council of Ministers orders and regulations.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS Leads and governs the national system of civil emergency management in Albania. It approves and endorses appropriate strategies, policies and programmes that aim to prevent, mitigate, prepare and respond to civil emergency

RESPONSIBILITY IN NATIONAL LEVEL The Council of Ministers leads and governs the national system of civil emergency management in Albania. It approves appropriate strategies, policies and programs that aim to prevent, mitigate, prepare and respond to civil emergency situation. The Council of Minister after collection the necessary data declares of State of Emergencies in particular area or in all Albania. The Council of Minister will undertake the following tasks: §  Establish the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Civil Emergencies to take direct responsibility for managing the situation that or managing the situation that has developed. §  Appoint the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, who will be the Deputy Prime Minister or a Minister depending of situation. §  Inform the President of the Republic and the Assembly of Albania of the situation that has emerged, the dangers it presents, and what measures have been taken already.

WHEN A STATE OF CIVIL EMERGENCY IS DECLARED

Civil Emergency Management Team (task force)(CEMT) When the State of Emergency is declared a Civil Emergency Management Team (CEMT) is established in the NOCCE. Depending on disaster type participants from line ministries and other central institution are organized in sections. Representative of ARC, International Organizations and NGOs work in close coordination with the CEMT. The CEMT prepare the decision making process of the Head of Operations and IMC.

Ministry of Internal Affairs

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Implements the policy of Council of Ministers in areas of planning and coordinating civil emergency initiatives.

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Coordinate the actions between the relevant institutions concern with, monitoring, informing, planning and responding at the central and local levels.

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Coordinate the activities of the Ministry and other dependent state bodies on the request of Interministerial Committee and the Head of Operations.

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The National Civil Emergencies structure is compose by permanent and provisional structure on central, regional and local level. All ministries have in their structure civil protection commission.

GDEC

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Department of Civil Emergencies is permanent and specialized structure.

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Responsible for handling the initial stages of response to an actual civil emergency situation.

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Support the NOCCE with addition staff to monitor the situation or handle an emergency situation.

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Maintain the overview of CE situation in the entire territory of country.

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Maintain constant contact with Civil Emergency offices of the 12 regions of Albania

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Coordinate the structures involved in the civil emergency response and take the measures to facilitate their work in alleviating the situation.

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Advise and provide supporting information for the MOI and the Inter-Ministerial Committee for CE.

Floods in region Fier, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Berat, Elbasan, Korçë. February 2015

Floods in region Fier, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Berat, Elbasan, Korçë. February 2015

Level of flooding example

Map showing the initial affected communes

Figures and Facts

§  Approximately 6.000 ha are flooded. §  The total population in the flooded areas amounts 397.316 persons. §  1100 houses flooded. §  609 houses are destroyed. §  2,000 people evacuated. §  Approximately 15,000 farming households were affected. §  Approximately 50.000 birds are dead.

OPERATION FORCES

•  Civil Emergency Structures •  Firefighting service •  Armed forces •  Police forces •  Civil Emergency Volunteer Center •  Albanian Red Cross

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

§  According on NCEP point 6.8 the “International appeal is prepared by the Inter Ministerial Committee and procedures are implemented by the Minster of Foreign Affairs. §  The Head of Operations, Inter Ministerial Committee, closely supported by the GDEC with determine the requirement for International Assistance. §  On 4 February 2015 the MOI request for international assistance to ERCC and EADRCC. §  First team arrived on 6 February from Austria, Slovakia which consist: Urgently need as: Power generators, blankets, family tents (model 350) for up to 8 persons, boots, foods, sand bags etc.

HOST NATION SUPPORT

§  In order to effectivity receive and coordinate international assistance (HNS) was established in line with the draft national manual of HNS. §  Upon arrival in Albania (every team met in border) international units were provided with: Liaison officer for each foreign team. Escort every team by police state. Accommodation and food for the units that need. Fuel and space parts for the power generators.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

•  Austria; •  Bosnia – Herzegovina; •  Belgium; • The European Civil Protection Mechanism (team); • Germany; • Japanese International Agency for Cooperation (JICA); • Canadian Red Cross; • Qatar; • Kosovo; • Macedonia; • Croatia; • Montenegro; • Serbia; • Slovakia; • Turkey; • Hungary; • Russia; • UN;

LESSON OBSERVED

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Effective and Rapid assistance from another countries, NGO, different embassy, private sector, etc.

•  All the state were engaged. •  The action of Fire Service had a positive physiological impact on affected communities. •  Actions of Fire Service saved lives and property. •  Good cooperation between different institutions. •  Experience and knowing each other from previous joint trainings through the EU CPM Training Programmes, IPA programmes and other projects – to be continued in future.

LESSON LEARNED

•  Strengthen the system for DRR and Disaster Management.

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Strengthen Early Warning System. Improve flood awareness of the population. The people should be educated about the hazards in advance Strengthen the Metrologic service Strengthen regional cooperation Strengthen the response capacity of government Improvement the prevention measures Language barriers

Its important to further train together in order to be ready for the next emergencies