UN atomic watchdog steps up efforts against nuclear terrorism

Stepping up its efforts to thwart nuclear terrorism, the United Nations atomic watchdog has raised $23 million for security measures ranging from emergency plans against “malicious acts” to combating the smuggling of radioactive materials, but more still needs to be done, the agency said today.

“On the safety and security front, we can take satisfaction in the degree of progress, but we must remain vigilant, and clearly much work is still urgently needed,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei told the agency’s 47th General Conference in Vienna.

“Despite the increased level of attention given to the security of radioactive sources since September 2001, many countries still lack the programmes and resources to properly respond to the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism,” Mr. ElBaradei said in his opening address on Monday, according to a news release today.

The release noted that nearly $23 million had been pledged to the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Fund in voluntary contributions from 21 countries and one donor organization in the campaign to strengthen “countries’ nuclear security arrangements against malicious acts” following the terrorist attacks on the United States on 11 September 2001. Of this over $13 million had already been received.

As part of the campaign, the IAEA is helping member states identify and protect vulnerabilities at their nuclear installations, including nuclear material in use, storage or transport. It has run 40 related advisory and evaluation missions throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America since September 2001, and convened 60 training courses, workshops and seminars.

The agency has helped countries locate and secure orphaned or obsolete radioactive sources, develop emergency plans in the event of radiological emergencies from malicious acts, set up strong national regulatory oversight bodies and national source registries, and provide training and assistance to prevent illicit nuclear trafficking.

In order to counter nuclear smuggling, the IAEA is helping beef-up member states’ abilities to detect radioactive material at their borders and respond to illicit trafficking in conjunction with the international police organization Interpol, Europol, the Universal Postal Union and the European Commission.