A new Red Cross for nuke disasters next year

May 14, 2012

New Red Cross organization to be formed to help countries cope with nuclear disasters

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120514p2a00m0na016000c.html

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has decided to create a specialized organization to support relief activities of Red Cross societies in the aftermath of nuclear accidents.

At an international meeting in Tokyo starting May 14, the structure, location and duties of the organization will be discussed.

According to the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), there are currently no departments at the IFRC headquarters in Geneva or at global Red Cross societies that provide support after nuclear disasters. At a general assembly at the headquarters in November last year, the IFRC decided to establish guidelines for an immediate response to nuclear disasters with a target of fall 2013.

At the meeting from May 14, officials from 16 countries and territories, primarily nuclear power plant-holding nations including Japan, are participating. Through debate, the members will share lessons learned from nuclear disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima and make a schedule for the establishment of immediate response guidelines.

When the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant began, there were problems such as the central government's evacuation orders not making their way to local governments. The JRCS put together an emergency response team for the treatment of earthquake and tsunami disaster victims and support of nuclear disaster victims, but problems such as a lack of staff knowledgeable about radiation became apparent. The JRCS has since worked to put together action plans, install whole body counters that can measure radiation dosages at Red Cross hospitals, and also help with setting up machinery to measure radioactive substances in foods.

A JRCS member said, "Based on the assumption that a nuclear disaster can occur in any country, we want to put together preparations that can be applied to different countries, with a neutral stance toward nuclear power."