A probe into Bahrain and other Gulf countries' ability to deal with a potential nuclear radiation disaster has been completed. Results and suggested contingency plans will be put before GCC ministers in coming weeks.

The two-year study has been carried out by a GCC regional committee, in co-operation with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts.

Their final plan will address radiological and nuclear disasters in the region, reports our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej. In the full survey the committee evaluated radiological materials, their uses and locations, in addition to implied hazards.

It also assessed every state's capabilities in dealing with radiological accidents, in order to determine their equipment, cadres, training and qualification programmes and requirements to cope with such accidents.

The committee's legal system studied ways of exchanging information between countries of the region, which required developing an agreed special protocol, to prepare for and confront radiological and nuclear accidents. The plan has to meet international standards and constantly be reviewed and updated by the IAEA.

The GCC ministerial council recommended that the national party(ies) concerned in each state should be identified to deal with such events, in line with ministerial decisions. - TradeArabia News Service