Chornobyl victims are owed money

Eastern Economist

KYIV - During the Verkhovna Rada's weekly session on April 13 dedicated to the work of the government, Emergency Minister Vasyl Durdynets attacked funding for Chornobyl victims. He announced that the direct cost to Ukraine of overcoming the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster have exceeded $11 billion (U.S.) in the past 13 years.

Mr. Durdynets complained that funds were so scarce that what did become available was immediately allocated to high priority categories such as children's homes and medical care for those struck down with illness following the disaster.

He added that while 821 million hrv were required in 1998 to meet the needs of those recuperating from the disaster, only 181 million hrv were provided by the state budget.

National deputies passed a resolution in which the Cabinet's work towards carrying out the program of social assistance for Chornobyl victims was described as unsatisfactory. Deputies called on the Cabinet of Ministers to draw up a monthly schedule of payments on the debt owed Chornobyl victims, which currently totals 763.2 million hrv.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 25, 1999, No. 17, Vol. LXVII

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