Baghdad: The Ministry of Environment has announced the establishment of an operations room, also referred to as a crisis cell, aimed at preparing for and responding to nuclear emergencies at the Arab level. This initiative marks a significant step in enhancing regional cooperation and coordination among Arab countries in the field of nuclear safety.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the decision to form this operations room stems from a coordination meeting held via videoconference. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Salem Al-Hamdi, Director General of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency, and Dr. Sabah Hassan Al-Husseini, Assistant Chairman of the National Authority for Nuclear, Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Regulatory Authority. Dr. Al-Husseini also serves as the Chairman of the Arab Network of Nuclear Regulators (ANNuR). The meeting saw the participation of representatives from regulatory bodies of several Arab nations, including Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Kuwait, Libya, Bahrain, Tunisia, and Sudan.

During the meeting, Dr. Al-Husseini highlighted the current capabilities of Arab countries in managing nuclear emergencies. He emphasized the importance of monitoring, early warning systems, and the provision of immediate data through an electronic platform specifically developed for these situations.

As part of an integrated approach, Dr. Al-Husseini elaborated on the decision to create an operations room for immediate communication and coordination. This setup is designed to facilitate prompt responses when any unusual changes in radiation levels are detected.

These measures are part of a broader collective Arab effort to address the challenges posed by military operations targeting nuclear facilities in the region. The primary aim is to safeguard populations, protect the environment, and uphold nuclear security and safety.