Region

Around 25,000 Belarusian kids from Chernobyl-affected areas rehabilitated abroad in 2007

This year 38,600 Belarusian children were rehabilitated in 23 countries thanks to gratuitous foreign aid rendered as part of programmes for humanitarian cooperation with foreign non-governmental organisations. General groups included 37,900 children and special groups included 700 children. BelTA learnt from Alexander Kolyada, Director of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the Belarus Presidential Property Management Directorate, the most welcoming countries were Italy (17,000 children), Germany (8,000), the UK (2,800), Spain (2,500), Ireland (1,900), Belgium (1,600), the USA (1,200). Humanitarian projects for children rehabilitation abroad cover all parts of the country and primarily the areas affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe (the Gomel oblast — 17,300 children or almost 45%, the Mogilev oblast — 7,600 children or almost 20%). When general organised groups of children are sent for rehabilitation abroad, priority is given to children and underage Belarusians, who live in radionuclide-polluted territories, children from large families and low-income families, children from children’s homes and boarding schools. In special groups children with oncological diseases in remission stage account for 42%, children with diseases of internal organs — 16%, children with blood diseases — 11%. Children rehabilitation has been made possible with the aid of 97 organisations with corresponding licences. Alexander Kolyada said, children rehabilitation as well as the development of humanitarian cooperation were in the centre of attention at a national conference involving heads of public organisations on October 10.