OPCW staff and attendees at the Consequence Management Table Top Exercise in Indonesia
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the European Union (EU) and the Government of Indonesia hosted a table-top consequence management exercise for States Parties from the South-East Asian Region*, on 19 and 20 August 2013 in Jakarta Indonesia.
The two-day table-top exercise simulated a large-scale release of toxic chemicals. Thirty eight participants from Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand took part in the exercise, with two representatives from Myanmar participating as observers. They discussed how to manage a crisis of this nature, formulating plans on how to respond to the incident and to mitigate the impact of the toxic chemicals on communities and facilities.
Supported by disaster management professionals from Australia and New Zealand, the participants explored every aspect of the scenario and drafted response plans based on international best practice.
The consequence management exercise is the initial element of a further project in chemical emergency response to be held for the participating countries in Malaysia later this year.
Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) mandates the Organisation to assist States Parties to develop the necessary capacities to respond to the use or threat of use of chemical weapons and to effectively manage the consequences of the unplanned release of toxic chemicals.
Speaking at the opening of the table-top exercise, the Director General of the Department of Industry of Indonesia, Mr Benny Wachjudi, emphasised the importance of the development of the necessary capacity and expertise by first responders in countries of the region to respond to chemical emergencies. He took the opportunity to thank the OPCW and the European Union for their invaluable contribution to this important initiative.
* Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar (who were invited as a non State Party)