Yogyakarta (Indonesia), 23 August 2023 – In a collaborative effort, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Indonesian National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) organized the 2nd Inter-Agency Workshop on Responding to Chemical Weapons Incidents in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Drawing participation from over thirty representatives of various government agencies from Central Java, East Java, and Yogyakarta, the workshop is an integral component of the project, "Building a Safer South-East Asia by Preventing and Responding to the Use of Chemical Weapons by Terrorists and other non-state Actors in Indonesia." This initiative is generously funded by the Government of the United States of America and jointly executed by UNODC and UNICRI, with support from various national government agencies and subject matter experts from third countries.
The 2nd Inter-Agency Workshop delved into critical topics, including the pivotal role of command centers in managing chemical weapons incidents, emergency response protocols for handling such incidents, the establishment and function of health crisis centers during chemical weapons incidents, and the comprehensive management of victims during and after these incidents.
The workshop placed significant emphasis on clarifying the roles of various local agencies in responding to potential instances of chemical weapons use and the ensuing consequences for terrorist purposes. Particular attention was dedicated to enhancing coordination among local and national emergency response mechanisms. This involved discussions on critical decision-making during emergencies, timely notifications to relevant agencies and the public, and the integration and mapping of essential assets necessary to safeguard the public.
The event, a testament to effective collaboration, aims to bolster the preparedness and response capabilities of agencies in the region, ensuring a robust and coordinated approach to addressing the potential threat of chemical weapons incidents and their aftermath.
