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Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation
Project

PROJECT 098: Strengthening CBRN medical emergency preparedness and response in South East Asia

Context

Regardless of their origin (natural, accidental or deliberate), CBRN incidents share similar features, requiring similar prevention, detection and response measures. Diverse stakeholders, such as law enforcement agencies/offices, prehospital emergency medical care, hospital emergency medical care and laboratories, play a critical role in preventing and rapidly responding to hazards of this kind. Consequently, each country requires sound and collaborative CBRN multi-hazard medical emergency preparedness and response plans (strategic and operational) and associated capabilities.

The revised version of the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) requires World Health Organization (WHO) Member States to develop and strengthen CBRN multi-hazard emergency preparedness and response capabilities, including at points of entry (PoE). Between 2016 and 2019, WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) missions evaluated these (among other) capabilities in all 10 SEA PCs, who demonstrated weak capacity for responding to CBRN health emergencies, including at PoE, based on relevant JEE indicators. 

Overall objective

To increase effectiveness of CBRN risk mitigation and security governance mainly through the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative.

Specific objectives

To strengthen CBRN medical emergency preparedness and response in PCs in South East Asia in order to minimize health consequences following CBRN incidents, crises and events.

Activities

  1. Analyse existing CBRN medical emergency preparedness and response capabilities in PCs and carry out studies (literature reviews, interviews, etc.) to clarify precisely where value can be added within the scope of the project;
  2. Organise missions in agreement with NFPs and in coordination with the RS-SEA;
  3. Implement cacpacity-building activities dedicated to strengthening national and regional preparedness to CBRN medical emergencies.

Achievements

Project to start in 2023. (Dates indicated on the right table are tentative) 

CBRN areas
Bio-safety/bio-securityCrisis managementLegal frameworkPost incident recoveryPublic health impact mitigationSafety and security
CBRN categories
ChemicalBiological
CoE Region
SEA - Southeast Asia
12 JUNE 2023
Project 098 Factsheet
English
(706.73 KB - PDF)
Download

Stakeholders

Coordinators

United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute

Website
https://unicri.it/

Participants

This project is part of a pre-existing EU activity in the regions and has not resulted from the submission of a CoE project proposal. Due to the different origin of the project, not all countries involved are CoE partner countries.

** 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.

*** This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.