Albania’s Border and Migration Police have received a donation of 57,000 pieces of personal protective equipment against COVID-19 worth euro 25,500. The donation was made possible thanks to the contribution of the European Union’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) and was handed over by IOM during a ceremony at the State Border Police headquarters last week.

“IOM Albania, with the support of EU and others has been monitoring and addressing the challenges of COVID-19, as well as assisting the border management institutions  to face the new challenges of this pandemic and enabling them to better assist migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the Balkans,” said Alma Jani, IOM Albania Head of Office.

The donation includes gloves, masks, face shields, hand sanitizers, disinfection pumps and other equipment, which will be used by border police officers and personnel working at migrant reception facilities and border crossing points.

The project “Addressing COVID-19 challenges within the Migrant and Refugee Response in the Western Balkans” responds to the challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic in border and migration management. It aims at ensuring that asylum and migration management systems remain operational and that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 among migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the Western Balkans is reduced.

City of Dispatch: Tirana