The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is providing training for African member states at Swakopmund.

The five-day advanced training is aimed at building capacity for first responders from 13 English-speaking states in Africa.

It is designed for civil defence fire and rescue services, police, military units, hazardous material teams and medical responders.

The over 30 personnel gathered here will have their skills enhanced to better prepare them to respond to chemical emergencies.

The course includes practical demonstrations, real-time scenarios and a focus on decontamination, detection and monitoring.

According to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in July 2023 the last declared chemical weapons stockpiles were verified as destroyed.

The organisation is providing member states with expert guidance, technical support and essential resources to keep people safe from threats.

Participants were encouraged to continue collaborating beyond the training and meaningfully apply the knowledge they gained.