Rusland – slachtoffers van radioactieve straling

Steun voor het kinder kankerziekenhuis in de provincie Chelyabinsk.

Russia – support for children’s hospital, nuclear victims

Due to lack of project funding for this region in the past two years, WECF continues to look for private donations for the continuation of work with partners in the nuclear contaminated region around the Mayak nuclear armament and re-processing plant in Chelyabinsk (South Urals). Local partners of WECF are improving the situation of children in the cancer hospital, many are victims of nuclear contamination.

The hospital staff has no funds for activities and many children spend all day indoors in their beds. Therefore it was decided that with the limited funds it was best to start with a donation of specially designed beds on wheels so that the children can at least be moved to the recreational area. Other organisations work for handicapped children in the region.

Only part of the parents visit their handicapped children when they are treated in an institute. Having a handicapped child is still a great taboo in Russia. Our partner NGO’s try to work with volunteers in the institutes to help with education, exercises and entertainment for the children.

The Ural region in Russia is facing many problems related to health, safety, economic development and the environment. There is an urgent need for creating a sustainable future perspective. The pursuit of sustainable development requires the commitment and dedication of the government, industry, NGOs, scientists and the public people.

From 1996 till 2002 WECF and five partners NGO’s in the South Ural region implemented several projects in the fields of environment and health, assessment of health effects of nuclear contamination, water management and safe drinking water, child nutrition and healthcare for pregnant women. Seven other NGO’s participates in the projects. See the project Russia School for Democracy