Landmine Survivors’ Assistance in Albania

From May 28-June 4, 2005, the Polus Center led an international delegation to Albania. The purpose of the delegation visit was to gain a better understanding of (1) the landmine situation in Albania (mine clearance, mine risk education, and survivor/victim assistance) with specific attention devoted to the needs of landmine survivors, (2) how those needs are being met, and (3) the possibility of The Polus Center making a contribution through development of new services or capacity-building for existing services.

The delegation was purposefully diverse, with representation from four countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nicaragua, United Kingdom, and the United States); expertise ranging from demining, peer-support, prosthetics, law, and human services; and representatives of four organizations: The Polus Center, Landmine Survivors Network (both Washington D.C. headquarters and Bosnia-Herzegovina office), C. King Associates, and Walking Unidos.

The Polus Center has since developed a proposal for the Albanian Landmines Partnership Project to implement programs in the following areas:

• Locally based prosthetic rehabilitation services for landmine survivors to complement national rehabilitation services
• Highly individualized, person-centered social and economic integration services
• Leadership development and the capacity of landmine survivors and their social support groups to influence public policy

This delegation visit was made possible through a grant from the Schiffman Foundation and coordination from the Victims of Mines Association in Kukes, the Albanian Mine Action Executive, the US Department of State Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, and the US Embassy to Albania in Tirana.