UN atomic agency to test emergency preparedness with simulated accident in Romania

Marshalling 60 governments and seven international agencies, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will test plans for handling a radiological emergency by simulating an accident at eastern Romania's Cernavoda nuclear power plant next week, the agency said today.

The test next Wednesday and Thursday will put the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) through its paces in transmitting emergency notification, alerting Member States and international bodies about the implications and responding to requests for assistance.

"This exercise is focused primarily on testing communication networks and assessing the technical implications," IAEA said.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) will activate its Strategic Health Operations Centre (SHOC) to receive notification and alert the Radiation and Environmental Health Unit (RAD). RAD will activate the Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network (REMPAN) and inform regional offices, the IAEA said.

Other agencies taking part include the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).