Even 22 years after the Chornobyl accident, coordination of activities toward Chornobyl-affected territories recovery provided by state authorities and international organization still requires attention. For example, in the North part of the Rivne region there are still some settlements that are critical from the point of view of internal irradiation doses, levels of radionuclides in agricultural products and especially in non-timber forest products. Data state that there is endemic microelements deficiency in local population diet. At the same time, these districts are characterized by the high level of the birth rate. Typical are families with 4-6 kids. However, level of medical service, schooling and pre-school facilities needs substantial improvement. The employment needs are constantly growing.

There is potential for the development of the affected area. For example, in Rokytne rayon there is functioning extraction of the granite, developed wood processing industry and other non-timber products. Besides the district has the potential in tourism development there is the millennium oak, developed eco-trail, unique forests and lakes, and villages preserved traditional culture of this part of Ukrainian Polissia – including traditional ox. Though, economic activities of the district are limited by the Chornobyl legislation, which restricts opening of new enterprises and prohibits recreational activities at the territory.

These districts require special rehabilitation programs that would take into consideration their particularities, particularly healthy maternity and creation of employment.

That is why the UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme initiated the workshop to discuss the annual plans for 2009 with representatives of the Ministry of Emergency and Community Development Centres, representatives of Rivne Oblast and Rokytne Rayon State administrations.

Among other topics that were discussed the rehabilitation and development of the North part of the Rivne region, as well as application and development of new approaches to rehabilitation that are required at this stage of the accident consequences.

Ms. Iryna Hromuliak, Head of the Department of the Population protection of the Chornobyl accident of the Ministry of Emergency presented annual plan of the Ministry. During the discussion it was recognized  the effective cooperation between the Ministry and CRDP in developing of informational materials. Also it was concluded that cooperation between Community Development Centres and local State Administrations should be enhanced.

CRDP Project Manager, Pavlo Zamostyan has presented the UN Action Plan on Chornobyl to 2016 and international project on information provision on Chornobyl accident that would be jointly implementd by the UNDP, IAEA, UNICEF, and WHO at the territory of Ukraine, Russia and Belorus.

The Action Plan of Chornobyl to 2016 foresees that interagency task forth would be coordinated by UNDP. The Action Plan was developed in close cooperation of Interagency Task Force (UNDP, UNICEF, IAEA, World Bank, and WHO) and Governments of Ukraine, Russia and Belorus. More information on Action Plan for Chornobyl to 2016

It is important to state that such annual workshop targeted at coordination of UNDP’s, Ministry of Emergency’s and partners’ activities allows to effectively support the recovery process at the Chornobyl-affected areas.

For further information please contact Dzvinka Kachur, UNDP/CRDP: Tel: /044/ 253 07 08; 253 50 68; 253 51 77

Fax: /044/ 253 76 63; e-mail: dzvinka.kachur@undp.org.ua