Source: Okay Communications Inc.
Monrovia – A National Action Plan for the reduction of risks related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) materials and agents is being drafted by the government of Liberia with support from the European Union.
Head EU Delegation to Liberia Emma Sundbald said the world is interconnected with economic and technological development adding as such there is a significant increase in the use, manipulation and transport of CBRN agents and materials.
“This is generally positive as these substances offer many opportunities, but we should also take the measure of the potential risks they represent for our security, health, environment and economies,” Sundbald said.
The EU-Liberia Head said the threat can be of different origins like accident, natural event or a criminal act.
Sundbald said this initiative is not stir up paranoia but for the prevention and reduction of CBRN-related risks.
“First of all, the agenda is extremely vast, covering many different fields and requiring many different interventions. It therefore requires collaboration and commitment from a very large number of institutional and individual, state and non-state stakeholders in a coordinated and integrated approach,” Sundbald said.
Sundbald said that she’s confident that the new government will give the required political will to endorse the CBRN policy reform base on proper evaluation of needs and risks.
EU-Liberia Delegation Head promised the European Commission’s support to the needs identified and prioritized.
“The impact of our assistance will therefore be as beneficial as possible. This is important to European taxpayers who want to know their money is being used as effectively as possible,” Sundbald said.
Madam Sundbald said the exercise is important for the security and well-being of Liberia and Liberians.
“Once adopted, the National Action Plan will most notably have the added-value of allocating the available resources to the right priorities; being a tool to track progress and hold the different stakeholders to account regarding actions they are responsible for,” she added.
Sundbald said, beyond the national framework the policy document is a requirement for the development of a regional action plan.
EU-Liberia averred that a regional dimension is critical as the CBRN issues knows no border and therefore require concerted efforts and support.
The Center of Excellence initiative began 2010 as a new methodology providing technical assistance to countries outside the European Union in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risk mitigation.
