Formation 2001 Director General Shemsi Prençi | Headquarters Tirana, Albania Website www.mbrojtjacivile.al | |
Parent organization Ministry of Internal Affairs of Albania | ||
The Drejtoria e Përgjithshme e Emergjencave Civile (General Directorate of Civil Emergencies) is a department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Albania that is responsible for preparing for and responding to natural or man-made disasters. The current head of the service is Shemsi Prençi. .
History
Under communist rule, Albania’s military was responsible for emergency management, focusing mostly on response rather than mitigation or prevention activities. Since the end of the communist regime, Albania has made significant steps towards developing an emergency management system. In 1999, to coordinate assistance during the Kosovo refugee crisis, an Emergency Management Group (EMG) was established under the Office of the Prime Minister. After the refugee crisis, the Government dissolved the EMG and passed a series of laws and decrees to establish a new emergency management system.
In 2001, the Government of Albania passed Law No. 8756, “Civil Emergency Services,” which defines Government-wide emergency management roles and responsibilities. According to this law planning and implementation of civil emergency plans is the responsibility of the General Directorate for Civil Emergencies (GDCE), currently under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.