New York: The United Nations has launched a broad study of the implications of the accident at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant following the earthquake and tsunami in March, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced.
"The UN has a clear role to play in facilitating this discussion," Ban told heads of UN agencies during a video conference on Friday.
"To advance this agenda, I will convene a high-level meeting on 22 September on nuclear safety and security."
The UN head said he would "present a UN system-wide study on the implications of the nuclear accident at Fukushima”.
"The report will touch on a variety of areas, including environment, health, food security, sustainable development and the nexus between nuclear safety and nuclear security," he said. "It will also present system-wide views on how to improve disaster risk preparedness."
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has leaked radiation into the air, sea and land since it was crippled by the 9.0 magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami which led to the world's worst nuclear incident since Chernobyl.
Around 24,000 people were left dead or missing by the quake and tsunami along the country's northeast coast, according to the latest police count.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, May 21, 2011, 16:29