Albanian Red Cross works shoulder to shoulder with military in Vlore

Photo By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Bryson | Volunteers from the Albanian Red Cross booth in Vlore have a little fun trying on U.S. military equipment with U.S. Army Able Company, 457th Civil Affairs Battalion, Civil Affairs Team members at a military-sponsored open house that was held as part of DEFENDER-Europe 21 activities May 22, 2021 in Vlore, Albania. The ARC often works hand in hand with Albanian military emergency responders, medical personnel and other entities when providing relief and education to the public here. The Civil-Military Cooperation Center based out of Pasha Liman Naval Base in Vlore, which is represented by civil affairs teams from 12 partner nations including the U.S. and Albania, is instrumental in connecting organizations like the ARC to citizens in need and helping to provide assets, education and information to the public. DEFENDER-Europe 21 is a large-scale U.S. Army-led exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO allies and partner militaries. This year, more than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations will conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in more than a dozen countries from the Baltics to the strategically important Balkans and Black Sea Region. Follow the latest news and information about DEFENDER-Europe 21, visit www.EuropeAfrica.army.mil/DefenderEurope. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth O. Bryson)  

VLORE, ALBANIA

05.22.2021

Story by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Bryson 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

VLORE, Albania– U.S. Ambassador to Albania Yuri Kim visited Albanian Red Cross workers at their booth May 21,2021, during a military sponsored open house for the public that was part of DEFENDER-Europe 21 activities in Vlore, Albania. Kim praised the volunteers’ humanitarian work in Vlore, and throughout Albania, which includes disaster response, public education and COVID-19 mitigation measures.

The Albanian Red Cross (ARC) is a member group of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Albania. It is the oldest humanitarian organization in Albania and boasts 39 chapters that provide humanitarian aid and assistance throughout the country.

The ARC often works hand in hand with Albanian military emergency responders, medical personnel and other entities when providing relief and education to the public here. The Civil-Military Cooperation Center based out of Pasha Liman Naval Base in Vlore, which is represented by civil affairs teams from 12 partner nations including the U.S. and Albania, is instrumental in connecting organizations like the ARC to citizens in need and helping to provide assets, education and information to the public.

Just some of the activities the ARC sponsors in Vlore are cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid classes for the general public ( a requirement for all Albanian drivers), COVID-19 mitigation education and response, disaster relief and humanitarian aid.

Volunteers at the ARC booth in Vlore briefed Kim on their recent COVID-19 response and educational outreach programs and then spent time with U.S. civil affairs team members who sponsored the event along with Albanian partners. The volunteers said they enjoyed the chance to show off their programs and speak with military partners— and the opportunity to try on American military equipment.

DEFENDER-Europe 21 is a large-scale U.S. Army-led exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO allies and partner militaries. This year, more than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations will conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in more than a dozen countries from the Baltics to the strategically important Balkans and Black Sea Region. Follow the latest news and information about DEFENDER-Europe 21, visit www.EuropeAfrica.army.mil/DefenderEurope.

• Date Taken: 05.22.2021
• Date Posted: 05.29.2021 09:11
• Story ID: 397762
• Location: VLORE, AL