By Bill W. Cooper
A five-day Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNe) simulation training for government ministries and agencies aimed at enhancing preparedness for CBRNe risk mitigation incidents has ended in the country.
This initiative comes in the wake of a recent tragic explosion at Sethi Brothers Company, which claimed the life of a Liberian worker, leaving many in shock and disbelief.
The intensive training was focused on emergency response protocols, risk assessment, and inter-agency coordination to ensure a safer environment for all, with participants engaging in realistic scenarios to better equip them for potential threats.
The training was also aimed at drilling representatives of line ministries and agencies of government through simulations, helping them learn how to detect chemical, toxic, and flammable CBRNe hazard materials.
CBRNe has been in existence in Liberia for 12 years now, dating back to its formation in 2013 during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as its weapons can cause mass casualties and societal disruption.
With support from the European Union Center of Excellence for the African Atlantic Facade Regional Secretariat under the aegis of Project 106, the initiative further aims to foster collaboration between various government institutions to improve national safety and security measures against CBRNe threats.
Speaking at the end of the training, the trainers from the International Security and Emergency Management Institute (ISEM), Mariam Kolencik, Lubos Trudic Petit and Raphael Broniatowski thanked the government for the warm reception accorded them.
According to them, the workshop is designed to enhance Liberia’s preparedness and response capabilities through comprehensive tabletop and field exercises, as well as simulations focused on incident detection and the effective use of multipurpose hazard suits.
They further emphasized the importance of such training in preventing future tragedies and safeguarding public health and safety, thus pledging their continuous support towards making Liberia a safe and better place for all.
The National Inter-Ministerial Platform Coordinator, Assistant Professor Scott-Tabi Martin, said the training sessions represent a significant step forward for Liberia as it seeks to strengthen its national response framework for complex threats.
He noted, “Participants were engaged in various hands-on exercises designed to simulate real-life scenarios, enhancing their skills in using multipurpose CBRNe detection equipment, deploying hazard suits, and conducting decontamination drills to effectively manage incidents involving chemical, biological, or radiological agents.”
Martin also acknowledged the challenges faced by the platform but noted that the Liberian government is supportive of CBRNe’s activities. As such, the training is another testament to the government’s support towards CBRNe activities in the country.
He expressed his optimism that adequate funding will be allocated to facilitate educational programs that raise awareness, particularly among those with no prior understanding of the dangers posed by CBRNe materials.
Martin thanked the EU for its sponsorship and encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training to enhance their skills, urging senior government officials to attend major CBRNe activities to gain deeper insight into its mission and objectives.
Also, the Africa Development Management Associates (ADMA) Managing Director, B. Elias Shoniyin, lauded the government and partners for the initiative, which he described as timely and worth celebrating. Shoniyin emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing potential CBRNe incidents, which pose significant risks to public health and national security.
