Radiation response network launched

VIENNA, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Austria-based International Atomic Energy Agency announced the launch of a nuclear emergency response network after pledges of assistance from four states.

The IAEA announced that the response assistance network has become operational after Finland, Mexico, Sri Lanka and the United States pledged their support to the emergency response program. Officials say the RANET is an effort to address radiation incidents including dirty bomb threats among emergency situations with a global response designed to coordinate international assistance, the IAEA reported.

"With these initial registrations, we have successfully launched the first phase of RANET," Warren Stern, head of the IAEA Incident and Emergency Center, said in a statement.

"When designing the system, we worked with a group of countries to make sure that RANET was interoperable and responsive to a state's needs in the event of an emergency. We're pleased with the breadth of capabilities we've received thus far and look forward to further registrations from member states."

"The backbone of RANET's capabilities consists of technology and trained experts which could be made available for on-site emergency response assistance. In the event of a serious radiological incident, a member state can request support from RANET when the event's consequences exceed its domestic response capabilities," the release said.