Building a regional network of stakeholders

Various entities in Seychelles are participating in a simulation exercise to prepare for and respond to chemical, biological, or nuclear incidents.

Participants in the training come from agencies such as the Disaster Risk Management Division, the police, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Environment. The project, titled « Toolkit for Effective CBRN Planning and Response », includes a tabletop exercise (TTX). It is organized by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in partnership with the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and the European Union’s CBRN Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative.

Francesco Morelli, head of the three-day workshop, emphasized the importance of countries being always prepared to handle such events. « We’re covering essential measures to ensure a prompt and effective response », Morelli stated. The project’s main goal is to identify common obstacles and effective methods for CBRN incident response. Another key aim is to streamline primary resources that policymakers can use to design and implement CBRN response strategies. The ultimate goal is to build a regional network of stakeholders, including national, international, and academic experts, dedicated to sharing their expertise.

Following this workshop, Seychelles’ national CBRN department will implement a national action plan to identify priority hazards and current capabilities to address these risks effectively.