Kyiv, September 22-23, UNDP in Ukraine has co-organised the International Workshop “Learning from the Chernobyl legacy to make European nuclear energy safer: the role of local communities, authorities and central governments in emergency preparedness and management”.

Among participants of the Workshop were representatives of local authorities from 18 countries, Ministry of Emergency of Ukraine, other international organizations including The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe,  and International Atomic Energy Agency.

Participants realize that nuclear energy contains additional risk for life and health of people, especially those who live close by the Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). That is why the goal of the workshop was to involve local authorities and communities in development and implementation of national emergency plans, monitoring and early warning procedures, iodine prophylaxis, other countermeasures, and information provision on radiation risks.

In his introductory speech, Francis O’Donnell, UN System Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine has stated «It is symbolic that the workshop takes place in Ukraine, where communities of over two thousands settlements experienced the largest nuclear accident and still face various problems associated with the accident. To a large extend, long-term socio-psychological consequences like so-called ‘victim syndrome’ were caused by lack of transparency and inappropriateness of information provided by authorities after the accident, and by excluding local communities from the decision-making on emergency response and recovery actions. In the future, these mistakes should not be repeated”.

Representatives of local authorities from Luxemburg, France, Sweden, Armenia, Belgium and other countries have presented their experience on cooperation with NPP, like programs on exercising, training, voluntary emergency teams and other.

Among the key presentations were V.Holosha, Deputy Minister of Emergency presentation on development of all-Ukrainian system of accidents notifications with the involvement of local authorities; and P.Zamostian, Project Manager of the UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme presentation on UNDP experience on information provision on radiation risks at the Chornobyl-affected areas. Both presenters stressed that delays and unreliability of information provision after the Chornobyl accident has caused socio-psychological tensions in Ukrainian society. This situation can be prevented in the future, at the same time at the Chornobyl-affected areas the need for scientifically sound information on radiation risks is still high. 

Discussing experience of the Chornobyl accident participants stressed that nuclear accidents are boundless. That is why special attention is drawn to transboundary co-operation for early warning and standardization of procedures on contamination, forecasting and monitoring in the resolution signed by all participants. The resolution conclusions state the necessity to provide scientifically sound information, to develop public awareness via communities and to establish the network to ensure the best practices sharing and experience exchange on countermeasures among different countries. 

It is expected that as result of the workshop the European network of local authorities of settlement placed close by the NPP would be established, the cooperation among NPP managers and local authorities would be improved, and the legal acts for development of the network in the European Council would be designed.

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

Additional information:

Organizers of the International Workshop are European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement of the Council of Europe (EUR-OPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), EUR-OPA Network of Specialised Centres and Ukrainian authorities.

There are currently 439 nuclear power reactors in operation in 30 countries, supplying just over 15% of the world?s electricity. In Ukraine, there are four NPP.

As for the 01.01.2008, The UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme (CRDP) has supported establishment of 279 community organisations that are acting in 192 settlement with membership over 20 000 people was supported. During 2003 – 2007 CRDP has financially supported 190 community projects with grass-root funds. The total budget of community projects is over 3,4 million of USD where CRDP has contributed about 1 million of USD, community organisation about 15-20 %, village councils and district administration about 40% and private sponsors about 10-15%. Establishment of community organisations allows effective information-provision on the radiation safety at the contaminated areas.

19 of November 2007 UN resolution on Chornobyl proclaimed 2006-2016 as a decade of sustainable development and announced that ‘after two decades, a return to normal life is a realistic prospect for most people living in Chornobyl-affected regions’. The UN resolution underlines the daunting challenges that the region still faces, but underscores that a “developmental approach,” focusing on such efforts as job creation, investment promotion, and community development, holds potential solutions.