Dignitaries send off medical relief from U.S. (03/16/97)

Humanitarian airlift is culmination of Chornobyl anniversary efforts

Dignitaries send off medical relief from U.S.

by Irene Jarosewich

NEWARK, N.J. - The Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund's 18th airlift of humanitarian aid to Ukraine left Newark International Airport on Monday, March 10, carrying 42 tons of cargo valued at $1.7 million. Recognized as the largest provider, public or private, of aid directed at the victims of the disastrous 1986 explosion at Chornobyl, the CCRF has provided $41 million worth of aid over the past seven years.

On hand to send off the plane were supporters and dignitaries including Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Anatolii Zlenko, Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Yuri Shcherbak, New Jersey Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Torricelli, Frank Masci from Gov. Christine Todd Whitman's office, the Rev. William Diakiw and the Rev. Bohdan Zelechivsky of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., and Bishop Nicholas Dimarzio of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.

On hand as well was Vova Malofienko, a 12-year-old child of Chornobyl being treated in the U.S. for leukemia, whose family faces deportation as a result of the new immigration law that takes effect on April 1 (see story on page 4).

Key support for the airlift came from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., which raised funds for equipment that will be delivered to a children's hospital in Chernihiv, and the Monsanto Corp., which has provided substantial support for the Women's and Children's Health Initiative, a joint program between the corporation and the CCRF.

Also, through the efforts of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, several pharmaceutical companies in the New Jersey area donated medications to this airlift.

In addition to obtaining and organizing the cargo of aid, an enormous amount of effort is required from a variety of organizations and individuals in order for an airlift to be a success. At the behest of Ambassador Zlenko, Ukraine sent a military cargo plane for the shipment; Continental Airlines waived landing fees for the plane; the U.S. government paid for the fuel; the administration of Newark International Airport provided facilities, personnel and ground transportation; and Ambassador Shcherbak acted as a liaison for contacts in Ukraine.

Volunteers such as Valerie Burachinsky coordinated the cargo, while Tanya Vena calculated the value of donations, Marta Andriuk responded to contributors and Orest Fedash, general manager of the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in East Hanover, N.J., hosted the Ukrainian pilot, his crew and CCRF supporters

Sen. Lautenberg, who has been a longtime member of the CCRF's honorary board of directors, commended the organization for the committed and successful efforts to bring medical relief to Ukraine. He also promised to seek an emergency extension of visas for Vova and his parents.

"It is a strange irony of our time," said Sen. Torricelli, "that a country blessed with bountiful soil by God was abused by irresponsible use of technology." He praised the efforts of the people of Ukraine to respond to this health crisis during the past 10 years, and pledged that, as long as he can, he will make sure the U.S. government stays involved in its support for Chornobyl victims for the next decades.

Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky, president of the CCRF, linked the need for medical assistance with the development of a healthy democracy and a strong nation. "How can the people of Ukraine and Belarus build strong and democratic societies when their children are dying?" he asked. "How can they mobilize for the future when they cannot provide essential medicine to treat their babies?"

He continued, "Our former secretary of state, Warren Christopher, has called Ukraine the strategic linchpin to all of Eastern Europe. Our strategy to aid this country must include a strategy to rebuild its medical system, to bring new hope to its citizens."

And young Vova, mature beyond his years, thanked all those who helped keep him alive, and continue to work to save the lives of children like him in places such as his hometown of Chernihiv. "Every day," he said, "I pray that people will help Ukraine. I pray to prolong the lives of these children, children like me, and that they also win their fight to live a normal life."

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