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CHERNOBYL DISASTER CHARITY, BELARUS

'The worst man made environmental catastrophe in the history of humanity'

The Republic of Belarus

Our friends in the danger zone. Belarus is a land locked country in the east of central Europe, situated between Poland and Russia, not on the other side of the world, only a bus ride away and soon it will be on the eastern border of our glitzy new European Community. It is a country around the size of the UK and has a population of 10 and a half million people. A third of it is covered by forest. Belarus has a long sad history, often marched over by armies involved in other peoples wars, occupied by the German army during the second world war when 25% of it's people died. Then the accident that scientists were so convinced could never happen, happened and marred the lives of millions, caused the devastation of what was know as the "Bread basket of the Soviet Union" and had a social impact unparalleled in human history. The United Nations defined it as the worst man made environmental catastrophe in the history of humanity.

On the 26th April 1986 there was an explosion at a nuclear power plant, on the boarder between Ukraine and Belarus. Many tons of radioactive materials were thrown into the air. Some of these were carried around the world, but 75% of the radioactive fallout blew north and fell on the Land and people of Belarus. Only 1% of Belarussian land is classed as uncontaminated ( by international standards) A quarter of the countries best farmland and forests were poisoned for hundreds of years by caesium 137 and strontium 90. Where there is plutonium the land will be uninhabitable for ever. Hundreds of towns and villages were evacuated and many of them buried and wiped off the map, but over 2 million Belarussians, 50,000 of these children still live in contaminated areas. Even now 17 years on, in the summer air born dust causes the radiation levels to rise. Every day these people, eat, drink and breath radiation, clean food is priced beyond the reach of most people It is the silent enemy that you can't see, touch, feel, taste, hear or smell. The full extent of the worst single accident of the industrial age, are unknown to this day. It is a tragedy that will haunt forever.

The effects of the accident on our friends in the danzer zone

Since the accident occurred thyroid cancer among children has increased by more than 800%, There have been large rises in many other types of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory and digestive problems, and birth defects. Many women give birth to tiny babies some with multiple cancers. Time has not been a healer for the people of Belarus and the greatest fear is for the children of future generations.

The Belarussian government spends over 30% of it's annual budget on trying to deal with the after math of Chernobyl. Hospitals are desperately short of drugs and even the most basic supplies such as bandages, syringes, sutures, surgical instruments and gloves. Five or six doctors may have to share a stethoscope In the maternity wards even nappies, bottles/teats and incubators to help give these little people a chance to survive are none existent.. Ill health and stress amongst the adult population has resulted in the huge rise in the number of children living in orphanages, many with a handicap of some kind. These are often short of food, clothes, bedding, toiletries ( five or six will share a tooth brush) even a small cupboard for their own personal possessions(if they even have any) and along with the schools educational equipment, paper, pencils, pens, sports gear computers in schools are only dreamed about. The caring people, doctors, nurses, teachers, work long hours and are poorly paid, a consultant doctor earns around £60 per month. And the list goes on and on.

The friends we help in the danzer zone

The aim of our charity has been to deliver aid to a number of organisations in Belarus, some in the capital Minsk and others in the desperately poor country area's.

In Minsk

Children in Trouble
A charity formed and run by parents of children with cancer, they support with basic aid and medical treatment over 4,000 families who have children suffering with all types of cancers.
Regional Maternity Hospital
They are desperate for all types of baby clothes, bedding, toiletries, medical equipment and especially incubators.
Day Centre for kids with special needs. This was started by a group of parents, one of the first to be opened in Belarus. It looks after 25 kids from 5 to 19 years of age. The improvement in the kids is wonderful. It is a place full of love, joy and happiness.
Stolbsty Region
A country area 100 kilometres south west of Minsk in conjunction with Children's fund Sakavic.
Karolina Orphanage
Home for 250 kids with special needs.
Uzda Family Social Centre
This centre looks after the needs of over 300 families who live in extreme poverty.
Uzda Regional Hospital
The hospital and it's staff are desperate for all types of equipment, and basic supplies.
Uzda School for the arts
It has nothing other than dedicated teachers, worn out musical instruments and wonderfully talented pupils.

The help we have given this year To our friends in the danger zone

This year 2003 we have taken twelve trucks loaded with aid on the 3500 mile, 10 day trip to Belarus. Our journey takes us through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Poland We took a 9 truck convoy in April and 3 trucks in October a total of over 65 tonnes. Every kilo is delivered into the store room at the orphanage, hospital, social centre and other organisation we support, not some warehouse and out of our control.
Each truck cost's us a total of around £1800, ( hire, fuel, Insurance, Channel crossing, road tolls, ect ) Every driver pay's his / her own expenses, gives up work or holidays to be on a convoy, every one is a volunteers.
We gave 4 children a 4 weeks recuperative holiday, in the Vale of Evesham ( this will help to extend their life expectancy by 2 years)
We have helped with funds for the repair and provided spare parts for the ambulance used by Children's fund Sakavic
We have financed the fire proofing of the Day Centre in Minsk to save it from closure by the fire authorities, and provided furniture and wheel chairs.

A few facts about our charity

Our charity is based in the Vale of Evesham bordering the Cotswolds but we have members in the following areas who would be very happy to receive help, Bristol, Bromsgrove, East Anglia, The Cotswolds and West Midlands, . Our support comes from churches, pubs, Rotary and other wonderfully generous people, but we still need all of the help we can get to carry on with the work we do for these poor unfortunate children.

If you would like a more comprehensive information pack, more details or some one to give a talk to your club or group please call us or E-mail - we will be very happy to hear from you.

Mike Worton
19 The Croft, Church Lench, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11UD
Phone Number is 01386 870262

Email chernobyl2000@aol.com

Chernobyl 2000 Ltd

Help for children in Belarus

19 The Croft,,
Church Lench,
Worcestershire,
WR11UD
Tel 01386 870262
Email chernobyl2000@aol.com

Chernobyl 2000 Ltd is a none profit making company, limited by guarantee Reg No 4375049(England & Wales, and a registered charity No 1093020

How you can help Our friends in the danger zone

The general aid required for all of our projects is as follows.

Disinfectant, Bleach, Bathroom/ kitchen and toilet cleaner, Toiletries (Adult and baby), Feminine hygiene products, Cotton wool, Basic medicine ( ie pain killers) Medical equipment.

We have individual lists of the special needs of all of our projects. These range from wood working tools for the workshop we hope to install at Uzda Social Centre, to paper, pens, paint and brushes, musical instruments, for the school of art in Uzda.

Please ask for the one you may be able or would like to help with.

We also need lots of help all year round to collect, sort, pack, document and finally load the goods. We are also now involved with other none aid projects, teacher / social worker exchange and training, small building projects, school links, we are spreading our wings, If you have any experience in any of these fields and would like to help please speak with us.

We need drivers for our convoys, if you have a LGV licence or are a driver please ask for our driver application form and information leaflet. We desperately need help with fund raising to finance our convoys.

£20 will transport 10 boxes of humanitarian aid on one of our trucks.

£250 will provide the air fair for a child's holiday.

We are also registered for gift aid.