36th anniversary and International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day

On April 26, 1986, the world was shocked by a terrible tragedy: an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the northern part of Ukraine (then part of the USSR). This accident was the largest man-made disaster in the history of nuclear power. As a result of the explosion, large volumes of radioactive substances were released into the atmosphere, which then spread throughout the western part of the USSR and parts of Europe. Radioactive contamination has changed the lives of millions of people and the consequences of this catastrophe are still felt.

The Chernobyl disaster is of particular importance for Belarus. A significant part of the territories suffered from the consequences of the accident, which led to the resettlement and disruption of the normal way of life of hundreds of thousands of belarusians.

Since 1990 in the republic have been implemented five State programs
to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. The equivalent of 19.3 billion US dollars has been allocated for the implementation of program activities.

Belarus is grateful to all international partners who didn’t remain partial
to the suffering of people in the polluted territories and provided Belarus with all the possible assistance.

The proclamation by the General Assembly of the United Nations is symbolic during seventy–first session with the support of 60 Member States of the Organization on April 26 as International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.

Much has been done, but much remains to be done. At the same time, the focus of national efforts on the Chernobyl issue is deliberately expanded by the Government of the Republic of Belarus from assistance and rehabilitation to sustainable development of the economic and human potentials of the affected regions. The sixth State Program for overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster for 2021-2025 provides for the implementation of five tasks:

– provision of social protection, medical care, health resort treatment and rehabilitation of the affected population;

– provision of radiation protection and targeted application of protective measures;

– promotion of socio-economic development of the affected regions;

– improving the organization of health resort treatment and rehabilitation of children living or studying in the territory of radioactive contamination;

– conducting scientific research and information work.

Overcoming the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl accident requires huge national efforts and the formation of new partnerships to promote sustainable development of the affected regions, attracting innovation and investment.

In 2019, the UN General Assembly in its resolution recognized the continuing legacy of the Chernobyl disaster and the need to further ensure the sustainable development of the recovering areas, with special attention to the development of local entrepreneurship and tourism, job creation, the transition of the local economy to environmentally sound technologies, the promotion of sustainable forest management and agricultural innovation, the involvement of people in vulnerable situations in the processes of local development and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Belarus counts on the support of UN agencies, UN member States, private investors and is interested in attracting international partners to solve the practical tasks facing the state to ensure the sustainable development of these regions and their residents.

We hope to continue fruitful cooperation with all partners in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the affected regions.

Belarus expresses interest in developing cooperation with Finland which has its own practical experience in the field of nuclear energy and hopes that the beggining of operation of the third power unit of the NPP «Olkiluoto» will give an additional impulse to both bilateral and regional contacts in this area.

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