#Gabon:NRBC risks: Gabon working on an early warning system and response

 Aware of the danger posed by NRBC hazards (nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical), Gabon is activated to prevent such threats.

 Libreville hosted on 23 and 24 September a seminar on the launch of the active phase of Project 33 of the European Union (EU) which aims to improve the preparation of Gabon to NRBC risks (nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical).

The first day of work was marked by a variety of interventions including a reminder of what the project, its objectives and its program and a presentation of Component 1, which deals with legal texts. So it was to "define how to work on the legal texts of Gabon that address NRBC in order to identify what needs to be improved or what is missing; on the basis of the laws of the United Kingdom, France and the European Union, "said the project coordinator of the EU 33 for France international expertise (FEI). This step has implemented a "tabletop exercise with several scenarios where we put in the position meeting participants vis-à-vis a number of incidents NRBC." "Whether malicious or accidental, so ask a number of questions relating to both the legislation, organization of the intervention on these incidents in order to identify what is lacking and all that needs to be done over the next 2 years in training and working on the texts, "said Michel Richard.

The second day was devoted to training. According to Michel Richard, the issue was "clearly identify training needs, equipment and exchanges in the Gabonese authorities, first responders and command." "We worked on the legal texts. We also had the presence of a specialist in the NRBC is putting a program specifically tailored to the needs of Gabon. We also had further discussion on the legal texts of Gabon. Whether the texts concerning the implementation of international treaties, national laws, regional laws with other countries in Africa. And it descends to the level of orders and decrees of implementation and guides. We also discussed the need for equipment. What equipment including Gabon needs to cope with such threats, whether malicious or accidental origin, "Has he suggested.

Involved in this seminar, Nicaise Moulombi, executive secretary of healthy growth environment, declined the role of ONG and the Observatory to promote sustainable development of products and services industries Gabon (Oddig) in this project. "We are the local partner of FEI, which took over the project of the European Union whose national focal point for Gabon's Jean Maurice Ayilé. Our role is to support FEI in terms of logistics and assist the focal point in the data collection: everything law and also have training, "he has explained, continuing:" This training require significant additional resources to enable all stakeholders in the territory to appropriate NRBC risks. This requires additional support as it is that budget support set up by management stability of the European Union can not meet all needs. Which could lead to reduced efficacy even though the subjects are important, "adding:" After this seminar, the designated authority in the country has an obligation to make the rounds of ownership , awareness throughout the country. This is far from being possible if do not have the budget and logistics. "And announce: "In this regard we have initiated discussions with the Prime Minister and we hope that in the coming months, an order for a budget support to be provided to the national platform for the prevention and disaster risk reduction. "

                                                                              Gabonreview,, Friday, September 26, 2014