The United Nations digital ambassador, Elyx, participated from 1 to 3 September in a field exercise simulating an oil spill in the Danube Delta, organised by UNECE to improve the response to industrial accidents.
Elyx began on 15 August a 70-days trip to highlight UN’s work around the world on the occasion of the UN’s 70th anniversary. Elyx’s journey will end on 24 October at UN Headquarters in New York City.
Elyx selected the UNECE exercise in the Danube Delta, Europe’s second largest river delta and shared by the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, as one of his stops in Europe. Elyx learnt how countries jointly respond to such accidents in order to mitigate accidental water pollution. Industrial accidents can have severe consequences on human health and the environment, not only within the country they are originating in, but also across borders. It is thus important that riparian countries work closely together to effectively respond to such accidents in the event of an emergency. UNECE supports countries in improving their transboundary cooperation before, during and after an industrial accident in order to prevent them and to mitigate their effects, in case they occur.
Following the exercise, Elyx took part in the participants’ meeting to evaluate the results of the exercise. The results will contribute to finalize the first draft Joint Contingency Plan for the Danube Delta between the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.
The Project on improving hazard and crisis management in the Danube Delta is implemented under the auspices of the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents. Activities under the hazard and crisis management components of the project are being carried out thanks to the financial support by Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Romania. The Republic of Moldova hosted and contributed in-kind to the organization of the field exercise in the Danube Delta.
More information on Industrial Accidents here
Follow Elyx’s trip at: http://www.elyx70days.org