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29 September 2020

The EU donates COVID-19 personal protective equipment to the Border Department of Kosovo Police to address the pandemics’ challenges among the migrant and refugee community

The EU donates COVID-19 personal protective equipment to the Border Department of Kosovo Police to address the pandemics’ challenges among the migrant and refugee community

 

Joint Press Release

Pristina, 29 September 2020. In the framework of the project “Addressing COVID-19 Challenges within the Migrant and Refugee Response in the Western Balkans”, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Border Department of the Kosovo Police received today a donation of 14,415 pieces of personal protective equipment against COVID-19. The donation has been made possible thanks to the contribution of the European Union’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (EU FPI, IcSP) and was handed over by IOM during a ceremony at the premises of the General Directorate of the Kosovo Police.

The donation includes 6,000 gloves, 3,000 multiple use and 2,000 single use masks, 600 face shields, 1,400 liters hand sanitizer and 15 infrared thermometers, which will be used by border police officers, and personnel working at migrant reception facilities and border crossing points. “We are very grateful to the European Union and IOM for this equipment, which will contribute to protect front-line workers and ensure we can continue provide services to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in a safe manner” said the General Director of the Kosovo Police.

Mr. Riccardo Serri, The Deputy Head of EU Office said: Exceptional circumstances ask for exceptional responses. That is why the EU together with the implementing partners IOM and UNHCR decided to address COVID-19 challenges faced by migrants and refugees by further enhancing preparedness and response of the Kosovo authorities under the EU regional project funded by the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace. The EU is pleased to deliver to the Kosovo Border Police the much-needed Personal Protective Equipment so that they can continue to fulfil their frontline duties in a safe manner.” 

This donation complements the EU bilateral support to Kosovo for the provision of specialized medical tools and equipment for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 in Kosovo [1]. 

 “Thanks to the EU contribution IOM is pleased to support the border police officials in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic” said Ms. Anna Rostocka, IOM Chief of Mission. “Borders should become synonymous with facilitating movements in a safe, orderly and humane way. IOM advocates for the advanced border systems but also right-based and “health-proof” through the deployment of flexible and innovative public health solutions at borders. Protecting the health and human rights of people on the move in turns protect everyone” she added.

The project “Addressing COVID-19 challenges within the Migrant and Refugee Response in the Western Balkans” aims at ensuring that asylum and migration management systems remain operational and that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 among migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the Western Balkans is reduced. The project is running from April 2020 until July 2021 with an overall envelope of EUR 8 million Euro. It completes the bilateral donations from the EU to Kosovo, which amount to EUR 800,000.00.

For further information on the project, please contact, Mr. Habib Habibi, Project Coordinator, at  iompristina@iom.int

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[1] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.