SUMMARY

Every year, several hundred individuals die or are injured as a result of unplanned explosions, involving poorly maintained and badly managed ammunition stockpiles. While it is difficult to provide an accurate measure of the direct and indirect impacts of these explosive events on lives, livelihoods, housing, the environment, and development, the costs and consequences—in terms of health care, direct and indirect income loss, material damage, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and environmental damage—are certainly severe.

GA/11301

Sixty-seventh General Assembly
Plenary
24th Meeting (AM)

Tribunals Helped Forge New Culture of International Accountability; Residual Mechanism Needs Adequate Resources to Preserve Legacy, Speakers Say

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Albania’s mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination problem is a result of the 1999 Kosovo conflict. Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) laid landmines along both sides of Albania’s border with Kosovo, in the north-eastern Kukës region.

The Albanian Mine Action Committee and the Albanian Mine Action Executive (AMAE) were established by the government in 1999. In 2002, the UNDP initiated a capacity building project to build mine action coordination and monitoring capacity.

With the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean, the first meeting of the Drin Core Group took place on 30 May 2012 in Ohrid, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This was the first meeting of the Core Group as the official joint body according to the memorandum of understanding signed on 25 November 2011 in Tirana by the five Drin River Riparians — Albania, Greece, Kosovo (United Nations administered region under security council resolution 1244), Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

This report covers the period 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2011.

Programme summary

Disaster preparedness and response remains the priority area of the Albanian Red Cross Society.

4 April 2012 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the work of United Nations mine action personnel around the world in preventing landmines and unexploded ordnance from causing harm long after conflicts have ended, and transforming danger zones into productive land.

A BIG HAND FOR EQUALITY

Gender equality is central to meeting the needs of the worlds poorest and most vulnerable people – men and women alike – concludes a new ACT Alliance report launched to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.

“Clapping with Both Hands: 15 Studies of Good Practice in Promoting Gender Equality” celebrates innovative ACT programmes championed by brave women and men in 13 countries – from Guatemala to Indonesia, Mozambique to Nepal – that have enhanced the voice of women in workplaces, government and society at large.

Link: Extreme winter conditions DREF operation bulletin (MDRAL004)