|
Chernobyl Project
Aim of the project:
To alleviate physical and spiritual sufferings of the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Project summary:
Chernobyl is an ongoing national disaster of Belarus. Our country received a major part of the radioactive fallout as compared with neighboring Russia and Ukraine. During first several weeks after the explosion, iodine-131 had constituted a greatest danger. Radiocmeters had recorded a very high level of radiation throughout Belarus. Geography of thyroid cancer cases and maps of fall-out of iodine-131 show that practically the whole population proved to have been exposed to radiation. As a result, some 30% of the Belarusians suffer from diferent pathologies of thyroid body. At the present time the radiological situation in Belarus is conditioned by of long-lived isotopes which are accumulated by human organism and cause numerous diseases, children being the most vulnerable category.
In 2007, the Bible Society formed contacts with the local churches of different denominations in the contaminated area. In 2008 we plan to distribute spiritual literature for pastors and priests ministring the inhabitants of the area, for the children in recreation centers, for the adults having lost their health after received enormous exposure doses when trying to extinguish the fire at the Chernobyl station. It is worth mentioning that, according to the policy of the government, young specialists graduated from higher education establishments are sent to work in the Chernobyl area.
The consequences of Chernobyl disaster keep telling on the Belarusians, and there is a fear that the worst is yet to come. After the catastrophe,138,000 people left their homes and moved to other places. More than 2,000,000 Belarusians became victims to that disaster. Of them, there are 400,000 children who are called "Children of Chernobyl". Thanks to international humanitarian organizations many of these children go abroad for recreation. During that time, they often live in Christian families and hear much about God there. On return home, they would like to continue studying the Bible.
The present need cannot be fully met by the funds allocated for the project, therefore we are open for any contributions in order to be able to reach more victims of Chernobyl with the Good News of mercy, hope and love.
|