Albania is now prepared to respond to special emergency situations, such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents, following training provided by EU experts and the Center of Excellence.
A simulated chemical incident inside a warehouse was organized by the National Emergency Service to demonstrate how such situations should be handled in real-time.
The exercise involved specialists from nine countries, including Albania, all of whom were trained by EU experts.
“We have brought together nine countries to assess the effectiveness of the training, and all of them, including Albania, now have the capacity to respond to chemical, biological, or radiological events,” said Mark Salter, an expert from the EU Center of Excellence.
In addition to professional training, the National Emergency Service has been equipped with all necessary tools to respond to these high-risk situations.
Decontamination tents, as explained, are equipped with detectors that identify chemical, radioactive, or biological agents—previously lacking in the country.
“As you can see behind me, there are three such tents, which are used either at the scene or in front of hospitals to prevent contamination of public facilities,” said Skënder Brataj, Director of the National Emergency Service.
Though such incidents are rare, Brataj emphasized that these trainings are essential for preparedness and rapid response in the event of future emergencies.
