Consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident for Belarus. The 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe | Belarus News | Belarusian news | Belarus today | news in Belarus | Minsk news | BELTA
Consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe have affected more than twenty countries.
The entire territory of Belarus was polluted with radiation to a varying degree. Gomel Oblast, Mogilev Oblast, and Brest Oblast were affected the most.
Belarus
Ukraine
Russia
As many as 3,678 populated localities winded up in the radioactive contamination zone,
where 2.2 million people lived.
As many as 479 populated localities ceased to exist.
The exclusion zone (evacuation zone)* occupies 1,700km2.
As many as 21 districts remain on the list of the most affected territories. Nearly 1.104 million people live in the radioactive contamination zone, including 91.5% of them in the area, which is subject to periodical radiation measurements (1-5 Ci/km2).**
Sustainable social and economic development of the affected territories while observing radiation safety requirements is of national importance. Five government programs on overcoming consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe were implemented in 1990-2020, with the total volume of their funding equivalent to $19.2 billion.
The removal of populated localities from the radioactive contamination zone is expected to continue as the radiation situation improves.*** According to preliminary calculations, by 2025 the number of populated localities in the radioactive contamination zone, will drop by 273 (12.5%) in comparison with 2016.
*A 30-km zone and additional resettlement territory due to contamination density.
**As of 1 January 2020.
***Gradual decrease in soil contamination density and in population irradiation exposure.
Source: The Chernobyl Catastrophe Remediation Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry.
