WRITTEN QUESTION E-1724/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) and Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Chernobyl disaster and Belarus

The silence of the local authorities, the passage of fourteen years and the drastic reduction in aid from the EU and the international community, which has given priority to the emergency in the Ukraine, have exacerbated the catastrophic effects of the Chernobyl disaster across the whole of Belarus, which absorbed 70 % of the radioactive fallout from the nuclear reactor in the days following the explosion. The number of children with chronic disorders mainly thyroid cancer has risen from 10 % to 22 %, or 500 000 cases, while a total of 2 million people are subject to permanent medical supervision in relation to disorders of their endocrine or digestive systems, blood or kidneys due to radiation damage. In the region of Stolin alone, such disorders have increased by 240 % among adults and 320 % among children.

The medical authorities estimate that, in the 3678 towns affected, the health crisis will peak in 2010, while the catastrophe has already caused a loss of US $200 billion to the economy of Belarus. Yet the European Union has suspended or failed to renew, for reasons connected with its internal reorganisation, almost all the aid provided by ECHO.

1. What urgent action does the Commission intend to take to alleviate or prevent any further and catastrophic escalation of the health and environmental crisis in Belarus?

2. What emergency measures does the Commission intend to take, under or independently of ECHO and the TACIS programme, to assist the people of Belarus and strengthen the country's existing medical and health structures?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

The Commission is aware that the disaster continues to have grave consequences for the present and future of the people of Belarus.

It is for this reason that the Commission played a full part in the international aid operation, primarily through the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). Community humanitarian aid has not been affected by the deterioration in relations between the European Union and Belarus since the end of 1996, and the Council specifically decided in 1997 not to suspend this type of assistance. Between 1993 and 1999 the Commission provided over 6 million in Chernobyl-related humanitarian aid to Belarus mainly to the treatment of thyroid cancer. There as been funding under TACIS through a nuclear safety programme, funding of therapy for thyroid cancer, through the LIEN programme with local NGOs, and the Interstate programme is analysing ways of minimising the environmental and medical impact of the disaster and building the institutional capacity required.

It has not always been easy to supply Community aid. The Belarus authorities have systematically underestimated the consequences of the disaster for domestic policy reasons and have therefore not given an adequate national response to problems at all levels (information, evacuation of people from the areas concerned, medical care, help for families) and this has meant that people are now returning to the most contaminated areas because they have no other way of surviving. Community aid has also run into administrative obstacles, in particular getting medical equipment and products through customs at the border.

The Commission is closely monitoring the situation. It is still providing aid to the Belarus population and to medical and health care structures. This year it is planning to provide food aid and medical aid to the elderly, disabled and families. The TACIS programme is still not intended to provide humanitarian aid and is, furthermore, not authorised to finance infrastructure projects. The Commission is, however, planning projects with NGOs on health issues arising from the Chernobyl disaster within the limits of the TACIS Regulation.

What must be done, however, is to analyse in depth the reasons for the worsening health and environmental crisis in Belarus. It should be remembered that it is the Belarus people, and in particular the most disadvantaged sections of the population, which are suffering the effects of a general deterioration of society and the economy, including medical and health care and social protection. The current political regime in Belarus does not facilitate cooperation with international humanitarian organisations. The Belarus authorities must be reminded of their basic responsibilities in this area, not only as regards the political choices which are having a deleterious impact on the population in isolating Belarus from the international community but also as regards appropriate management of the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster.