36th anniversary and International Day of Remembrance of the Chernobyl disaster

On April 26, 1986, the world was shaken by a terrible tragedy: the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine (then part of the USSR). The accident was the largest man-made disaster in the history of the nuclear power industry. The explosion released large amounts of radioactive substances into the atmosphere, which then spread across the western part of the USSR and parts of Europe. Radioactive contamination forever changed the lives of millions people, and its consequences are still being felt today.

For Belarus, the topic of the Chernobyl catastrophe is of particular importance. The consequences of the accident affected a large part of the territory, leading to the resettlement and disruption of the normal way of life for hundreds of thousands of Belarusians.

Since 1990, five state programs on overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP catastrophe have been implemented in the republic. As of today, the equivalent of 19.3 billion US dollars has been spent on the implementation of the program measures.

Belarus is grateful to all international partners who have not remained indifferent to the sufferings of people in the contaminated areas and have provided Belarus with all possible assistance.

It is symbolic that the United Nations General Assembly at its seventy-first session with the support of 60 Member States proclamated April 26 as the International Day of Remembrance of the Chernobyl Disaster.

Much has been done, but there is still long way to go. The Government of the Republic of Belarus consciously expanding its assistance and rehabilitation measures to sustainable development of economic and human potentials of the affected regions. The sixth State Program on overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP catastrophe for 2021-2025 focuses on five tasks:

- social protection, medical care, sanatorium treatment and rehabilitation of the affected population;

- radiation protection and targeted protective measures;

- tromotion of socio-economic development of the affected regions;

- improvement of health-resort treatment and recuperation for children living or studying in areas of radioactive contamination; 

- scientific research and information work.

Overcoming the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl accident requires a huge national effort and new partnerships to promote sustainable development of the affected regions and to attract innovation and investment.

In 2019, the UN General Assembly recognized the lingering legacy of the Chernobyl disaster and the need to further ensure the sustainable development of recovering areas, with a focus on local business and tourism development, job creation, transition of local economies to green technologies, sustainable forestry and agricultural innovation, engagement of people in vulnerable situations in local development and promotion of 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 to ensure sustainable development of these regions and its people.

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

Print version