Public Misunderstanding of UN Chernobyl Aid Resolution

Over the past several days, I have seen many bloggers writing about the recent UN resolution regarding Chernobyl aid. Many people are apparently confused by the announcement that the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) emphasis on Chernobyl assistance efforts will shift from emergency and disaster relief to rehabilitation and sustainable development.

People are taking this to mean that radiation levels have returned to near normal levels and the area is again safe for habitation. This is a huge and grossly incorrect assumption. What these people do not understand is that the UN concentrates its Chernobyl aid efforts on several oblasts (provinces) and districts surrounding the Chernobyl area, but does not include the Chernobyl District itself.

The Chernobyl District is the location of the majority of the Ukrainian part of the Exclusion Zone. This area is still contaminated and off limits for habitation, and it will remain that way for a very long time. So no, Pripyat, the town of Chernobyl, and the immediately surrounding villages will not be repopulated.

To give you some geographical context, the following map is of Ukraine's Oblasts:

and the following map is of the districts within Kyivska Oblast, which contains the Chernobyl area:

(Images - courtesy of UNDP)

The following is a list of areas in which UNDP provides Chernobyl Aid:

Kyivska Oblast

Borodyansky District
Ivankivsky District
Kyivo-Svyatoshynsky District
Makarivsky District
Polissky District

Chernohivska Oblast

Ripky District
Chernihiv District

Rivnenska Oblast

Rokitne District
Dubrovitsya District
Zarichne District

Zhytomyrska Oblast

Ovruch District
Luginy District
Narodychi District
Emilchino District
Korosten District
Olevsk District
Brusyliv District

Note that the UN resolution affects aid and programs only within the above districts. In Ukraine, these districts are what is referred to as "Chernobyl affected areas," and have been habitable for most, if not all of the 21 years since the Chernobyl accident. They were contaminated by the Chernobyl accident 21 years ago, but to a much lesser extent than the communities within the Exclusion Zone.

I hope this provides some clarification to the UN announcement.