PROJECT 073 (IfS): CBRN Protection of critical infrastructure in Middle East CoE Region

Context

Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon are members of the United Nations, parties to the international non-proliferation treaties and conventions (including Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and Chemical Weapons Convention). The countries in the Middle East are facing immense problems driven not only by political, economic and social stresses but also by environmental, population, climate and food stresses. The economic and social impact assessments of the Syrian conflict and the ISIS crisis show that Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon are struggling with a large and growing crisis. The sudden influx of refugees has affected the neighbouring countries' economies and societies. The duration and magnitude of the crisis is uncertain.

In the field of civil protection and CBRN security, all the countries in this region have intensified cooperation with each other and are willing to exchange best practices with the EU in the field of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) disaster (natural and man-made) prevention, preparedness and response.

Overall objective

The overall objective of the project is to achieve enhanced CBRN protection of specific critical physical and virtual assets in the region.

Specific objectives

1. To develop and conduct risk identification and assessment methodology and risk mitigation guidelines for critical infrastructures;
2. To enhance regional and international collaboration and information sharing in critical infrastructure protection in the Middle East;
3. To develop a concept to reduce the insider threats related to the protection of critical infrastructure.

Activities

1. Set up a regional team of local experts in risk identification (Rl) and risk assessment (RA);
2. Planning, acquisition, installation and testing of relevant material and devices for the detection and sampling such as deployable mobile of fixed rad monitors, chemical and biological detectors;
3. Organising a workshop for entrance detection systems (explosives, rad, back scattering system, etc.) with live demonstration;
4. Organising a joint workshop on critical infrastructure protection with the participation of regional governmental institutions involved in the subject, local and international experts and international networks;
5. Implementing at least 3 national and one regional field or table-top exercise on a selected critical infrastructure topic to be agreed during the inception phase.

Achievements

• A risk assessment on critical infrastructure was conducted in Jordan;
• Several products were developed for pandemics preparedness and response;
• An NGS training course for Jordanian scientists in pathogen discovery was developed.