Acting GA president calls for more long-term recovery efforts for communities affected by Chernobyl disaster

The acting president of the UN General Assembly (GA) on Tuesday called on the international community to do more to promote the long-term recovery of communities affected by the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe.

The statement came as Maria Rubiales de Chamorro, who also serves as Nicaragua's permanent representative to the UN, addressed a meeting of the UN General Assembly commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

"The affected communities require fresh investments, socio- economic development, new jobs and accurate information on how to live safely in low-dose radiation in some areas, and on healthy lifestyles in general," Rubiales de Chamorro said.

"The resilience of those still coping with the disaster is remarkable, but they need our continued support," she added.

On April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear accident in history occurred at the Chernobyl power plant in present-day Ukraine, where an explosion left large areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia contaminated.

As more than 300,000 people were uprooted from their homes following the disaster, the acting GA president noted that " livelihoods lost almost 25 years ago have yet to be fully recovered and numerous farming villages are still struggling to overcome poverty, exclusion and the stigma of contaminated regions. "

"We stand in solidarity with those whose lives were changed by tragedy. Only by working together, will we be able to bring this region back to the normal life fully," she said.

Source: Xinhua

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