For realization of a regular National program on overcoming the consequences of disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant for 2006–2010 from the state budget of Belarus the funds were allocated in the amount of 1 billion and 600 million rubles. Simple calculation shows that the state daily directs nearly 1 million rubles to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.As well as neighbouring Russian Federation and Ukraine, Belarus has to fight with the consequences of disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant for already two decades, it destructively influenced all the spheres of human activity — production, culture, science, economy, demographic situation. More than 1 million and 300 thousand people live on the territory contaminated with radionuclides, it comprises one fifth of Belarus.
Deputy Minister on emergency of Belarus Vladimir Tsalko underlined at the meeting of the UNO General Assembly that the most acute questions of rendering emergency aid to the population were solved at the price of immense efforts and costs, life in the harmed regions of the country stably got better. However, the task for the nearest years is also difficult — to restore economical potential of the harmed regions, to establish conditions for safe habitation of people there, production of ecologically clean production, health protection.
Today, taking into account the significant growth of diseases on the contaminated territories, first of all, of thyroid body, secondary care to the population is being improved. The funds are allocated for capital construction, including the construction of houses for Chernobyl invalids, specialists, which came to work in the harmed regions. The gasification work of dwelling houses is being carried out, on provision of population with quality drinking-water, construction of hospitals, schools and infant schools in the contaminated population centers. The measures are taken on provision of the address receipt of funds to the suffered population and creation of concessionary economical conditions for regions’ development.
“In such a way, as earlier, we will bear the main burden on restoration of the harmed territories. However, support and solidarity of the international community is important for us, and we made sure of it one more time”, — noted Vladimir Tsalko at the meeting of the UNO General Assembly. He said thanks to all co-authors of the resolution, accepted on November 19, “Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts in the sphere of study, mitigation and minimization of consequences of Chernobyl disaster”. The accepted resolution testifies on the development of a new stage in the international cooperation and transition completion from rendering of emergency humanitarian aid to restoration and development of the harmed regions with creation of conditions for safe and comfortable habitation of people there.
UNO member states also supported the offer on proclamation of “The decade of revival and sustained development of the regions, which suffered from disaster at Chernobyl nuclear power plant” by the UNO, approved by Minsk International conference of 2006 over Chernobyl.
This decision is contained in the General Assembly resolution that was unanimously adopted by the UNO member countries by the results of discussion of the question “Optimization of international efforts for studying, alleviating and minimizing consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe”.
Apart from three countries, which were the most affected in Chernobyl catastrophe — Belarus, Russia and Ukraine — as well Armenia, Brazil, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, Switzerland and Japan have become co-authors of the resolution.
The General Assembly has greeted a proposal submitted by the United Nations’ Development Program to provide coordination of the UNO action plan for the Chernobyl areas recovery for the period until 2016 in order to carry out a decade of national strategies’ support of affected countries, maximum effective using of limited resources and avoiding doubling efforts.
The United Nations’ Development Program shall provide a project of such an action plan for consideration to an interagency target Chernobyl group to the 22d catastrophe anniversary (April 26, 2008).
The General Assembly confirmed that the United Nations Organization has to continue playing an important coordinating role in strengthening of international cooperation in studying, alleviating and minimizing consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
It was charged to an administrator of the United Nations Development Program as to a coordinator of the UNO international cooperation regarding Chernobyl catastrophe the cooperation with the governments of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine to continue further studying of medical, ecological and socioeconomic catastrophe consequences in compliance with recommendations issued by the Chernobyl forum and improve information support of local population.
The UNO has also noticed a progress that had been achieved by the governments of affected countries in carrying out national strategies of alleviating Chernobyl catastrophe consequences and called for establishments of the organization as well as for multi and bilateral donors to continue coordination of their assistance with priorities of national strategies of the affected countries.
Irina Trofilova
