The Orphans of Chernobyl

Online, January 19, 2010 (Newswire.com) - In Belarus, the nightmare of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster persists in the faces of the young children living at the Minsk Orphanage. Most of the 90 children who consider this orphanage their home, suffer from birth defects and developmental delays attributed to one of the worst radioactive accidents in human history. According to official post-Soviet data, about 60% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus.

After the Chernobyl tragedy, the number of children born with severe medical conditions increased and is still high in many parts of Russia. In total, there are 10 orphanages in Belarus, 6 of which specialize in caring for children with development disorders. An estimated total of 1,200 children, ranging from 0 to 4 years, live in a Belarusian orphanage. Families who are unable to cope, financially or emotionally, leave their ailing children at the doors of the orphanage.

For many outside of Belarus, the legacy of Chernobyl is all but forgotten. NGO, Health Into the 21st Century, is working to raise awareness of the long-term effects of the tragedy and collect monetary and in-kind donations for the children of Belarus; the true victims of this event.

Health Into the 21st Century has been organizing a large scale project to benefit the orphanages. The organization was founded in Belarus in 2003, and has since expanded to include offices in Germany, Ireland, and Spain. The push to help these under-funded and understaffed orphanages is badly needed.

"As of now, we have governmental regulations in place. The government will not spend more than in 10 U.S. cents a day (400 Belarusian Rubles) on the treatment of a child," says Maria Shelestava, a representative from the charity. "Our major goal is to provide these kids with the highest standard of modern, medical treatment available in other parts of the developed world
and this will require funds, staff, and energy. That goes beyond what we currently have."