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Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation
  • News article
  • 10 January 2022
  • Beirut
  • Joint Research Centre, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments
  • 1 min read

ARZ exercise: testing Lebanon’s first response capabilities to a CBRN terrorism emergency

ARZ exercise: testing Lebanon’s first response capabilities to a CBRN terrorism emergency

Initially planned to be held in 2019, the ARZ exercise was foreseen a field exercise aiming to test the national capabilities to tackle CBRN threats and to support the implementation of the CBRN National Action plan adopted by the country in 2016. Several preparatory meetings were held in Beirut by the different Lebanese agencies and international stakeholders in the training village “ARAMUN” in South of Beirut.

The exercise was rolled out as a two full-day event (7th and 8th December 2021) in addition to a preparatory meeting with a safety and security briefing for all participants on 6th and a closing ceremony held on 9th December. Two scenarios were developed and implemented to simulate real case situations to test the decision-making process, the coordination and the capabilities of all the Lebanese actors involved in the first response during the different phases of a CBRN terrorism emergency.

Funded by the European Union  in the framework of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative, the ARZ was co-organized by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in collaboration with the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), Fondazione SAFE and the On-Site Assistance Expert of the Middle East Regional Secretariat and fully supported by the EU Delegation in Lebanon.

The European Commission was represented by Nathalie Pauwels (Head of Unit) and Sorin Popa (Programme Manager) and Kamel Abbas- Project leader and Scientific officer. The EU Delegation to Lebanon was invited to the opening ceremony of the first day of ARZ event.

This successful exercise involved more than 200 participants from several Lebanese agencies and 18 external observers from EU Members States (Italian Army, French Swat, SCK-CEN), Centres of Excellence Regional Secretariats and international organisations (Interpol, OPCW, League of Arab States and NATO School).

 

Details

Publication date
10 January 2022
Authors
Joint Research Centre | Service for Foreign Policy Instruments
Location
Beirut
CBRN areas
  • Denying support for misuse and terrorism
  • First response
  • Illicit trafficking
  • Public and infrastructure protection
  • Safety and security
CBRN categories
  • Chemical
  • Nuclear
CoE Region
  • MIE - Middle East