Global Threat Reduction Initiative, Africa and Middle East Project Plant 2012.

摘要

The goal of the Global Threat Reduction Initiatives (GTRI) Africa and Middle East Protect Program is to implement projects to protect vulnerable nuclear and radiological materials in the region. There are 68 countries in the region, 55 in Africa and 13 in the Middle East. The project teams face many challenges inherent to working in this region including: numerous high-activity sources coupled with concerns of high terrorist presence, lack of infrastructure, lack of control of radiological materials, political instability and violence prevalent in many of the countries. The African continent is home to many of the world's poorest countries. In contrast, the Middle East has many countries considered high-income countries, although several countries in the Middle East have conditions similar to those listed above. Thus, the entire region will continue to be a priority for GTRI's physical protection efforts for the foreseeable future. GTRI is currently engaged in 24 of the 68 countries in the region and has provided security upgrades for radiological sources at 110 sites within these countries. PNNL's efforts include engagement in nine countries with 35 sites upgraded through December 2011. PNNL has developed various strategies that will allow GTRI to engage remaining high-priority countries and continue efforts in countries already engaged. The strategies are targeted to prioritize those countries that have a greater need for inclusion by virtue of the potential for housing high activity radioactive sources and the risk associated with those sources.