Green Cross Visit dedicated to the 26th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident
26 years passed after the major nuclear technological disaster – Chernobyl accident. As consequence of this accident about 160,000 km2 were contaminated, many people, including more than half a million of children became victims of its effect. The territories resided at present by over 1.4 million people were exposed to great doses of radiation. Despite the fact that long time has passed since the day of the tragedy, more than one generation of people may feel and suffer its consequences.
This year during the Chernobyl days the group made of representatives of Green Cross International, headed by President Alexander Likhotal, politicians from Switzerland, Japan, France, USA, Brazil, South Korea, as well as journalists and photographers visited Ukraine.
On April 24 in the village Pakul, Chernigov region, the delegation attended the families who are the members of GCU Mother and Child club and participants of Social cooperatives project and visited Lokotkiv village whose residents were relocated after the territory was highly contaminated in the consequence of the Chernobyl accident.
The next day the group of foreign quests had the opportunity to visit the Chernobyl Power Plant and see the ghost town Pripyat and Chernobyl. Later in the day representatives of the delegation met with Mayor of Savutych Vladimir Udovichenko. The guests were able to get more information about the history of the city and Chernobyl NPP, as well as the achievements and development prospects of Slavutych. Representatives of the delegation had the opportunity to watch a concert and bright performance of children, members of one of the GCU projects - GCU Mother and Child club, met and communicated with the liquidators, and some people who witnessed a terrible accident, and visited the Chernobyl Museum. The guests also attended orphanage to which Green Cross Ukraine provides assistance and support. In the evening there was touching night ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Chernobyl accident. International delegation, along with other guests and representatives of local authorities laid flowers at the memorial to the Chernobyl victims.
On April 26, the meeting with the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn, members of the Parliament, Ukrainian politicians was held in the Supreme Council of Ukraine. The Swiss delegation was headed by the President of Green Cross International Alexander Likhotal. During the meeting they managed to discuss important issues related to the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, and find out that the topicality of solving the problems requires more support from both government agencies and non-governmental and community organizations.
Green Cross Ukraine organization expresses its gratitude and sincere appreciation to the Green Cross International, Green Cross Switzerland, its partners, sponsors and all those indifferent people who contribute to the implementation of activities, help to provide, social, medical and educational assistance and support to the victims of the Chernobyl accident.
