The Hindu : International : Chernobyl: call for more compensation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

International

International

Chernobyl: call for more compensation

MOSCOW: Hundreds of survivors of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster have marched in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, demanding greater compensation from the Government. Nineteen years ago, reactor No. 4 at the power station exploded sending radioactive fallout across Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and northern Europe. At least 3.3 million Ukrainians were affected by the blast, 100 km north of Kiev. The average monthly compensation for those directly affected rarely exceeds the equivalent of $50. About 700 persons joined the march, organised by the Ukrainian Chernobyl Union, a pressure group for survivors. Some bore placards with the slogans ``Chernobyl is closed, are the problems of Chernobyl forgotten?'' The group is to ask Parliament for a 10-fold increase in payments, yet doubts its request will be heeded. ``We are already tired of hoping for better ... it seems the Government does not have such money,'' one victim Tamara Tikhonova (68) said. The move is the first serious effort to force Ukraine's newly elected President, Viktor Yushchenko, to tackle the disaster's legacy. It comes amid growing financial problems at the plant, which owes $6 millions in unpaid wage and electricity bills.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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