Life After the Chornobyl Accident
For all of Ukraine, these have been years of pain, dealing with the consequences of the disaster, and honoring those who became part of this history.
More than 600,000 people were involved as emergency responders and liquidators; 2,293 Ukrainian cities and towns, with a population of approximately 2.6 million people, have been contaminated with radioactive nuclides; 200,000 square kilometers — this is the total area affected by radiation. Of these, 52,000 square kilometers are agricultural land. And what about today? Is everything alright? Has this catastrophe taught humanity across the world?
These are questions to which we still cannot give definite answers.
We continue to experience the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster.
We are confident that Ukrainians have drawn important lessons from this tragedy, corrected their mistakes, and gained a deeper understanding of challenges that were previously overlooked or not fully recognized.
Russia, unfortunately, has not done so. It continues the practice of nuclear terror and the occupation of nuclear facilities; attacks on critical energy infrastructure remain ongoing.
The Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was liberated, while the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has experienced 14 power outages. All of this is not only a manifestation of nuclear terrorism, but also a clear and alarming disregard for the lessons the world has been learning for 40 years in order to prevent another catastrophe. Instead, the Russian Federation appears intent on further escalating its aggression targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and is not limited to threats alone.
We must and will defend and protect children and families. We will continue — and must continue — to support one another.
Support for families who have been left without homes, without everything, is critically important and urgently needed for Ukrainian families. This is our primary task.
Creating jobs for people who have relocated from occupied territories to Slavutych is among the key priorities and goals we set for ourselves together with the city community and engaged civil society partners and organizations. The war has fundamentally changed the way of life in this once peaceful town. Only thanks to their resilience and belief in the strength of their country were the residents of Slavutych able to endure the hardships and trauma of occupation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=i4vySq2mvriie9EW&v=sSmYIOU0ac4&feature=youtu.be
Many mothers with children are still forced to remain in Zakarpattia, as it is safer here. These families need not only housing and financial support, but above all — compassionate care, dignity, and respect, and, of course, rehabilitation.
After the Chornobyl disaster, there were similar challenges and humanitarian needs that families faced. But at that time there was no experience, and it was a different war — yet people endured. They coped. https://visitslavutych.com/en/pro-slavutych/
And now we will succeed as well, thanks to your support and cooperation, wisdom, and kindness.
We thank our partners for their solidarity and for the financial support you have provided over the past 40 years and continue to provide today.
We believe in ourselves and in you.
Sincerely,
GCU Team
Founder of GCU
Yuriy Sapiga
