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The MRE objective is to prevent all mine and UXO incidents in NE Albania through MRE activities implemented under the direction and coordination of AMAE/AMAC, effectively reaching all targeted groups.
Based on its formulation, the MRE strategy aims to:
- Focus on the economically active group 15-45 and on remote villages.
- Conduct a further assessment of gender issues relating to women as a potential target group.
- 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 LNGO Victims of Mines and Arms - Kukesi Association (VMA), demining organizations and the village based Anti-mine Committees (AMC).
Most of the 39 directly affected communities received MRE, significantly contributing to the |
reduced number of accidents.
The number of mine incidents decreased from 152 incidents in 1999 to just 2 incidents in 2005, one of which was a demining accident and the other which was involved an Albanian citizen but took place on the Kosovo side of the border. Since then, no incidents have been recorded as of end of 2008.
The lack of accidents is repre-sentative of the effective MRE coverage as well as mine clearance activities taking place. |
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Two local organizations - Victims of Mines and Arms- Kukesi Association (VMA) and Albanian Red Cross are carrying out MRE activities in all affected groups in particular the school children and young males and females as the most affected groups. MRE activities include distribution of leaflets and booklets with messages on the mines danger, a mobile theatre, summer camps etc. which have been funded by the US State Department through ITF and UNICEF and coordinated and monitored by the Albanian Mine Action Executive. |
In addition, with UNICEF support, a MRE curriculum has been developed and has been launched in public schools as extra curricular classes in February 2008. The AMAP plans to expand the MRE curricula from the mine affected region to the rest of Albania, to include also areas affected by the UXOs looted during the 1997 uprisings, which are still causing some 15 incidents / year throughout the country.
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