Press Release (96)130 18 Sept. 1996

Austrian exercise of the use of Military and Civil Defence Assets (MCDA) in disaster relief "Viribus Unitis" 23-27 September From 23 to 27 September 1996, within the framework of the Partnership for Peace Programme, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Austria will hold an exercise, "VIRIBUS UNITIS", on the "Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets (MCDA) in Disaster Relief". The first phase of the exercise, which is in memory of the Chernobyl disaster ten years ago, will exercise procedures for international cooperation in the event of a major nuclear disaster. The second phase of the exercise will be a field exercise intended to demonstrate the improvements since 1986 in bilateral emergency assistance in case of large scale disasters. The participants will undertake the following tasks: test of alert and crisis management procedures; detection and decontamination of personnel, transport, material and supplies; manning of warning centres; protection of drinking water against contamination; and implementation of protective measures for the population. In addition to Military and Civil Defence (MCDA) Units from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Slovak Republic which will actively conduct the field exercise, more than 50 observers from 20 NATO and Partner Nations and International Organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-DHA) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will participate in the exercise in which nearly 1000 observers are expected. The United Nations Project on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief (MCDA) was initiated to develop appropriate arrangements with interested Governments and inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to ensure expeditious access, when necessary, to their emergency relief capacities, including food reserves, emergency stockpiles, personnel and logistic support. From the outset NATO has been involved in this project. Further information please contact Mr. E.G.J. Somer, NATO Civil Emergency Planning Directorate, (Int'l +) 32 2 707 4069. MEDIA ADVISORY