Press Release: The U.S partners with the Ministry of Interior to Enhance Regional Preparedness
United States Partners with the Ministry of Interior to Enhance Regional Preparedness for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Emergencies.
Nairobi, September 18, 2023 – The United States partnered with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to enhance regional preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies through a multi-country workshop on September 13 and 14 in Naivasha.
The U.S. Department of State and the Kenya’s National Disaster Management Unit cohosted the two-day Sub-Regional Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Response & Assistance Workshop, (SR2 Kenya), which included 43 participants from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and the United States. Representatives from internal security, defense, civil protection, health, environmental protection, disaster risk management, and international affairs offices of each country discussed how to coordinate a joint response to a CBRN emergency.
Participants shared best practices for CBRN preparedness and incident response with one another, and they participated in a table-top exercise that simulated a coordinated response to an emergency.
The workshop highlighted the need to invest in CBRN preparedness, the importance of continued exercises to practice responding to a major crisis, and the value of working together with regional partners to leverage foreign assistance to save lives, protect the environment, and minimize harm to all communities. Additionally, participants were encouraged to explore potential areas for future response cooperation regionally based on the response capabilities and gaps of the participating nations.
The U.S. Embassy Nairobi Export Control and Border Security advisor Mr. Scott Ross said, “In times of major crisis, regional collaboration and timely sharing of information is critical to an effective and rapid response. The United States is proud to help Kenya and our regional partners as they plan together and lay the foundation for a robust regional emergency response partnership, a partnership that will ultimately save lives and enhance regional security.”
The workshop is part of a series of events led by the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State and is designed to enhance international cooperation to deter and defend against the increasing use of CBRN weapons globally.
The United States values its partnership with Kenya in this field and strongly supports regional efforts that enhance and promote cooperation and regional stability.
The Director of the Kenyan National Disaster Management Unit Dr. Duncan O. Ochieng said “This partnership between Kenya and the USA exemplifies the spirit of international collaboration and solidarity in addressing global challenges,”