Belarus was significantly exposed to nuclear fallout from the explosion at the Chernobyl power plant in 1986. For four weeks every June we receive disadvantaged Belarusian children into our homes here in the New Forest. This gives these children a welcome escape from some of the continuing problems and heartaches that exist in Belarus and this brief visit has in many cases literally changed the lives of these children.
Belarus Country Profile
We have published a Belarus Country Profile which details the history, the Chernobyl Disaster, human rights concerns and other facts and figures relating to this country which became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The “Belarusian necklace”
Due to the fallout of Iodine 131 from the Chernobyl explosion, 1 in 4 of all infants in Belarus will develop thyroid abnormalities. The normal rate of thyroid cancer would be only one in one million. Children and teenagers are most at risk of developing thyroid cancer. After the operation that is needed for children suffering from thyroid cancer, the children have a permanent scar that marks them as Chernobyl victims, known as the “Belarusian necklace”.
Europe’s Last Dictator
As published in The Times in March 2009; Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus has often been described as Europe’s last dictator. He has tried to stop children from Belarus visiting Britain on charity-funded holidays after a child on a charity trip to the USA expressed a wish to stay there.