Seychelles Establishes CBRN Team to Mitigate Risks and Incidents
In a bid to strengthen its response to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks and incidents, Seychelles has set up a new team to develop a national action plan. The CBRN local focal point, Aisha Rachel, revealed the team’s plans in an interview with the press at a meeting at the Savoy Resort and Spa.
The reconstituted team, comprising representatives from customs and border authorities, law enforcement agencies, and emergency services, will meet for two days to discuss the finer details of the initiative, determine their specific roles, and how it will function over the next two years. The team may also add other pertinent members through their deliberations.
According to Robert Ernesta, director of the Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRMD), there were gaps in dealing with CDRM issues in the country, even with this year’s gas incidents at the Supreme Court and various schools. The CDRM team will work on such incidents, aiming to address them proactively.
The CBRN initiative is a key part of the European Union’s global strategy to counteract and mitigate CBRN risks, launched in 2010. Seychelles officially joined in 2013, with the Department of Foreign Affairs being the first focal point. The archipelago in the western Indian Ocean drafted its first national action plan, available since June 2016.
The National CBRM team will play an instrumental role in projects concerned with preparedness, mitigation, and action in related cases in the country, such as the gas leak incidents. Rachel emphasized that the team will be more proactive in addressing CDRM issues, having identified all necessary actions and prioritizing them from high to low in terms of severity.
The team’s action plan is expected to be up and running by January 2025, with regular reviews every three to five years. With this new initiative, Seychelles is taking a crucial step towards enhancing its preparedness and response to CBRN risks and incidents.
