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Today, April 26, is the 37th anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy – the International Day of Remembrance of the Chernobyl disaster – the largest man-made disaster in the world – the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which shocked the whole world.

The powerful explosion, equivalent to 500 Hiroshima bombs, changed the lives of millions of people and changed people’s attitude towards the peaceful use of the atom. According to the International Program of the World Health Organization, 800 000 people participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, including the entire staff of the Chernobyl NPP. In total, more than 3 million people were affected by the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, 90 000 were resettled from the contaminated territories.

Only on December 14, 1986, the construction of a protective sarcophagus over the destroyed fourth power unit of the Chornobyl NPP was completed, the accident of which on April 26, 1986 became a real national tragedy, the consequences of which we still feel today.

The International Day of Remembrance of the Chernobyl Disaster was declared on December 8, 2016 by resolution A/RES/71/125 of the UN General Assembly. This Memorial Day is celebrated annually on April 26, starting from 2017.

Nuclear safety for the preservation of human lives and nature is the most important task in our modern, dynamic, challenging time.

 

Words by Ivan Berezkin

Eastern Europe Territory

Today, April 26, is the 37th anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy