Decision on preparedness for nuclear accidents adopted by Red Cross

A decision concerning preparedness of countries to respond to humanitarian consequences of nuclear accidents has been formally adopted on the final day of the 18th General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).The Japanese Red Cross Society also proposed to host a conference in 2012 for national Red Cross Red Crescent societies to discuss preparedness for nuclear incidents.The IFRC General Assembly Affirms response to nuclear disasters is an important part of the IFRC's overall disaster management framework as derived from Strategy 2020 adopted by the General Assembly in 2009.The IFCR considers that more international cooperation is needed in responding to nuclear emergencies and therefore expresses willingness to work with the ICRC, other humanitarian organisations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the other UN system to prepare for and respond to nuclear emergencies.The resolution commits to increase knowledge of the potential humanitarian consequences of nuclear accidents, to further clarify roles and responsibilities of National Societies, the IFRC Secretariat and ICRC as part of our contingency planning, to work with local communities in the proximity of nuclear facilities to ensure their awareness of and preparedness for possible accidents and to coordinate with other (non-Movement) stakeholders to ensure access to victims in the event of nuclear accidents.It also calls on the IFRC Secretariat to - in consultation with National Societies and the ICRC - establish appropriate ways for facilitating the sharing of such internal and external knowledge and evidenced-based data and information and to consolidate those knowledge resources to assist National Societies to plan better for nuclear emergency preparedness.Moreover, it invites the IFRC Secretariat to extend its research, support and advocacy in the area of International Disaster Response Laws, Rules and Principles (IDRL) to include international law issues of particular relevance to work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in nuclear accidents; Invites the IFRC Secretariat to consult with National Societies and on how to most effectively extend our humanitarian diplomacy work to influence governments to implement safety mechanisms and commit resources to preparedness including at the community level and promotion of preparedness. At the same time, the IFRC is gravely concerned about the hazard and the perceived risks that the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident posed to the health, safe and sustainable livelihood, and socio-economic status of the affected people of Japan.The federation Acknowledges the lasting challenges faced by the Japanese Red Cross Society and its untiring efforts in responding to the humanitarian consequences in Fukushima, as well as the extraordinary solidarity demonstrated by sister National Societies, their IFRC Secretariat and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).It recalls the widespread suffering caused by the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago and its lingering impacts on individuals and communities in countries across Eastern Europe to this day; Reaffirms the commitment of the members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to continue to develop and improve their response plans to assist affected populations in coping with the humanitarian consequences during and after a nuclear accident, as well as their procedures to protect staff and volunteers.