At Event, Secretary-General Praises Remarkable Resilience, Inspirational Courage

 

of People of Chernobyl on 25th Anniversary of Explosion That ‘Shook the World’

 

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the twentieth International Conference on Health and Environment: Global Partners for Global Solutions, delivered by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, in New York, 26 April:

I am here to deliver remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General, who travelled last week to Kyiv, where he joined in commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe.  He used the occasion to reaffirm his support for all of the affected countries and people.  He also launched a five-point strategy for nuclear safety going forward in the future.

I am very pleased to join you this afternoon, and I will now read a message on behalf of the Secretary-General.

Twenty-five years ago, the explosion at Chernobyl shattered a region and shook the world.

We live in a time when both the adverse effects of climate change and the demand for nuclear energy are expected to grow.  As we meet, the tragedy at Fukushima is unfolding.  Our global debate on nuclear safety is more urgent and more significant than ever.

If we learn the lessons of the past to protect the future, Chernobyl’s greatest legacy can be that it served as a catalyst for a new international approach to nuclear safety.

Today we remember the suffering of the victims.  But we also recognize their potential for a new chapter, a new life.

Research has shown that normal life is possible for most people living in the areas affected by the catastrophe.

Now that a quarter century has passed since Chernobyl, we are shifting our response from emergency relief to long-term recovery and development.

The United Nations system is joining forces to carry out our Action Plan on Chernobyl to the year 2016.  United Nations agencies with expertise in food, atomic energy, development, the environment, population, children, health and other concerns are all engaged.

We are working with partners outside the   United Nations system, including development banks, relief agencies and generous Governments which understand that we all have a stake in helping those affected by Chernobyl.

The Governments of Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation are doing their part to protect their populations and mitigate the effects of the radiation.

Collectively, we are doing more than treat health problems; we are reclaiming cultural traditions, promoting small businesses and creating jobs.  We are aiming for a full recovery — for the land, the people and the economies suffering from the disaster’s effects.

But fear remains.  Considering what many residents have lived through, we can well understand their stress.  This in itself is a health threat that must be addressed with compassion and care.

Information is key to progress.  That is why experts from across the United Nations system are uniting to share scientific findings, best practices and other lessons learned.  And we are working to raise awareness among the local populations who need our help and support.

Through the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network, we are bringing together leading United Nations agencies and the three affected Governments.

The Network is training teachers, medical professionals and members of the media.  It is providing local residents with practical advice on health risks and healthy lifestyles.  Information centres are being set up in rural areas to give people there access to the Internet.  And the Network is supporting projects that improve living conditions and promote self-reliance.

By translating science into practical advice, we can help people live safely, calm fears and reduce the stigma that still affects the region.

A Chernobyl community activist once said: “The most important [thing] is that hope doesn’t die and we all keep hoping.”

The people have shown remarkable resilience.  They have inspired us with their courage.  Let us inspire them to hope.

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For information media • not an official record