38th Anniversary and International Day of Remembrance about the Chernobyl disaster

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 energy. 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 part of Europe. Radioactive contamination forever changed the lives of millions, and the consequences of this catastrophe are still felt.

For Belarus, the catastrophe at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is of particular importance. 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, five State programs have been implemented in the republic to overcome the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. To date, the equivalent of 19.3 billion US dollars has been allocated for the implementation of program activities.

International solidarity around Chernobyl has become the best example of public diplomacy and committed international cooperation. We note with appreciation the contribution of the international community, including the UN system, in the reconstruction and development of the affected regions. The UN Development Program plays a special role in this area.

Despite a number of successes towards the revival of the affected regions, much remains to be done. The topic of the consequences of Chernobyl will remain relevant in the long term. After all, some of the territories will never be suitable for life.

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