Events

MINSK, 22 April (BelTA) – The UNDP has implemented four big Chernobyl projects worth approximately $10 million with the support of international and foreign donors in Belarus, UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus Sanaka Samarasinha told reporters, BelTA has learned.

All in all, about 80 Chernobyl projects, programs and initiatives with a total budget of more than $70 million, including local contributions, have been implemented in the country since 1988, with the participation of UN agencies.

According to Sanaka Samarasinha, the emphasis in the work of the UN agencies on Chernobyl is placed on comprehensive rehabilitation and sustainable development of the regions affected by Chernobyl. “We need to involve more actively local people in the achievement of these goals,” he said.

A meeting of the inter-agency group on Chernobyl held at the United Nations headquarters in New York in April this year discussed the organization of multilateral cooperation to achieve the sustainable development goals in the Chernobyl affected regions. The group is presided by the UNDP Administrator, UN Under-Secretary-General Helen Clark, who arrives in Belarus on a visit on 24-25 April this year. The issues of creating partnerships, both within the country and at the global level, will be on the agenda of the visit.

Sanaka Samarasinha admitted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to raise funds for Chernobyl projects. This is due to the new global problems and challenges facing the modern world. However, he said, efforts to minimize the impact of the accident will be continued through various sustainable development programs embracing measures for the rehabilitation of Chernobyl-affected territories. In general, $82 million will be allocated for the projects under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Belarus for 2016-2020.

“Belarus can become a leader in addressing the issues of regional development, including in the Chernobyl territories,” Sanaka Samarasinha said. This will be facilitated by the projects with the participation of UN agencies, international partners and donors. For example, these are the projects on the development of small towns, support for small and medium-sized businesses, promoting economy and environment innovations. For example, the project Green Cities is aimed at solving environmental problems, creating green jobs.