Children of Chernobyl

Through direct exposure from the atmosphere and

Thyroid patients receive medicine at the Radiation Medicine clinic near Minsk

In Belarus cancer of the thyroid is so prevalent that the scar left after a thyroid operation is now chillingly referred to as a Belarussian Necklace, thus marking them forever as Chernobyl's victims.

Since the disaster there has also been an increase of 800% in the incidence of cancers in children living near to the reactor plus there has been a dramatic increase in the rate of babies born with substantial physical disabilities. Babies born limbless, deformed and with severe brain damage.

There are so many other radiation related health crises occurring in the region that for the first time in Belarussian history , the death rate is HIGHER, than the birth rate.

Treatment of disease is difficult in Belarus due to the lack of proper medication and equipment. The breakdown of the countries infrastructure, both politically and economically has caused inflation to rise at a rapid rate. Western goods are available in the shops but at prices well beyond the spending limit of the average Belarussian.  Recent research show that over 90% of children suffer from vitamin deficiency and many die through the lack of proper treatment that can be afforded to them.

In excess of 80,000 children have very little hope in life due to a disaster of someone else's making. Our aim is to relieve this suffering.