In a ceremony attended by the Minister of Interior Taulant Balla, Ambassador of Poland to Albania, Monika Zuchniak-Pazdan. UNDP Resident Representative Monica Merino,  three fire trucks were officially handed over to the municipalities of Lezha, Fier, and Pogradec. This marks a significant leap forward in strengthening emergency response capabilities across Albania.

These modern vehicles, equipped with cutting-edge technology are made available in the context of the project, titled "Strengthening Capacities of Albania Fire Protection and Rescue Service," funded by the Government of Poland and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Albanian General Directorate of Fire Protection at the Ministry of Interior, and local governments in 10 targeted municipalities.

The project extends to a range of supporting activities aimed at empowering municipal fire protection services.  From certified training for firefighting personnel to the provision of personal protective equipment and urban search and rescue containers, the project is equipping the 10 partners municipalities with the necessary resources to effectively respond to emergencies.

Key interventions of the project include:

- Basic standard training for 377 firefighting staff from 26 Albanian municipalities.

- Provision of 169 personal protective uniforms for firefighting staff in 8 municipalities.

- Provision of 3 Urban Search and Rescue containers for the municipalities of Fier, Durres, and Lezha.

- Construction of two fire stations in the municipalities of Fier and Pogradec.

- Acquisition of three fire trucks.