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former Soviet Union. It was used to power the part of the U.S.S.R. now
known as Ukraine. Also it was thought of as one of the safest nuclear reactors
in the world. But on April 26, 1986 something went terribly wrong and it is now
thought of as the worst nuclear disaster in history. It killed over 100,000
people with its radiation and is still expected to contribute to the deaths of
over 300,000 people.
Many of the town's residents would die of illnesses related to the accident in
the days, months, or years following. A new Greenpeace report has revealed
that the Chernobyl disaster could be responsible for more than a quarter of a
million cancer cases and nearly 100,000 cancer deaths. The group
requiring most help from this terrible accident includes people who continue
to live in severely contaminated areas and who are unable to support
themselves adequately, resettlers who are unemployed, and people whose
health is most directly threatened, for instance by thyroid cancer. These
100 000 to 200 000 people are caught in a downward spiral of isolation, poor
health and poverty; and need substantial material help to rebuild their lives.
Children are especially vulnerable
In Ukraine, more than a million children are considered affected by the 1986
nuclear disaster, which sent a radioactive cloud over much of Europe.
Today, the dilemma of most of the 6 million people who live in or near
contaminated areas is not considered terrible enough to permit evacuation.
Although hundreds of towns and villages are considered livable, the
surrounding fields, lake beds and forest floors that provide them with food and
water remain polluted.
Nearly all Bryansk residents suffer health problems, to which children are
especially vulnerable. The greatest source of anxiety, however, remains fear
of the genetic defects that might affect future generations. Young people,
especially those planning to have children, try to move as far away as
possible. For economic reasons however, few have that option.
Adults think that 20 years have passed, and the problems are over, said
Lubov Olefirenko, head of the Russian Children's Fund in Bryansk. So it's up
to the children to keep the fight alive.
Increased incidence of childhood thyroid cancer caused by radioactive fallout
has been the most dramatic health impact of Chernobyl as there are over
4,000 cases of thyroid cancer affecting the children. Also, a whole generation
of children are growing up potentially brain-damaged.
http://www.unicef.org/health/ukraine_33604.html
Many children are seriously ill as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. Large
tracts of farmland are unusable. Government welfare is nonexistent.
Malnutrition is rife. There is huge unemployment. Those lucky enough to have
jobs have not been paid for more than a year - or they receive payment in
crates of vodka. Children take it in turns to attend school - because they
share one pair of shoes.
The Catholic church is proving to be a lifeline, For 50 years the churches
were closed and Catholics were not allowed to practice their faith, she said:
'People were overjoyed when churches began to reopen. Many broke down
in tears when they were allowed to attend Mass for the first time. It was
incredible that they managed to preserve their faith through so many years of
oppression.' Besides bringing back the Mass, the Sacraments and running
catachetical programmes, the church is also giving hope in the form of
practical help.
Throughout the region, teams of dedicated, hard-working young priests and
religious and lay workers are setting up voluntary welfare training schemes,
soup kitchens and clothing banks - supplied by Friends of Poland. 'Conditions
are appalling,' Julie Hykiel the organiser said. 'In order to be treated at a
hospital, would-be patients must first bribe the doctors and nurses - who have
not been paid for a year. Then they have to bring their own bedding, food,
medicines, dressings, soap and all hospital disposables. It is an impossible
situation. Pensioners also have not been paid for a year and have no way of
purchasing medicine or care. '
Without the church, the plight of these people would be hopeless. We are
doing what we can to support their work.' The charity has a warehouse in
West London where they collect supplies. Four times a year they send out a
15 ton articulated truck filled with supplies to parishes in the Ukraine. Julie
Hykiel said: 'We still need medicines of all kinds. We are also short of soap
and toothpaste. Many people are suffering from skin problems as scurvy is
rife and the water is only on for two hours a day.
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=10290
Psychological impact
The Chernobyl accident resulted in many people being traumatized by the
rapid relocation, the breakdown in social contacts, fear and anxiety about
what health effects might result. There persistent psychological or mental
health problems still with the people as any traumatic accident or event can
cause the incidence of stress symptoms, depression, anxiety (including post-