Chernobyl children welcome once again

Children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster can return to Rochdale — after Milnrow and Newhey MP Phil Woolas confirmed a row with Belarus had been resolved.
The immigration minister said the eight-month ban was lifted after talks between the two countries.

Children from Belarus, aged between nine and 16, have been coming to Rochdale since 1995 as part of the Chernobyl Childrens Project West Pennine Branch.

Mr Woolas said: “We’re pleased we have been able to reach an agreement with Belarus that allows these visits to resume, and remain in place for at least the next five years.”

Belorussian president Alexander Lukashenko stopped all foreign trips after a 16-year-old girl who visited California refused to return home.

He banned visits to all countries involved in the scheme, including the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the US, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland.

Some 70% of the fall-out from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster fell on Belarus, and, as a consequence, an estimated 1.5 million children are now at high risk of developing cancers.

According to the charity, a four-week trip to the UK increases a child’s life expectancy by around two years, as the fresh air and uncontaminated food and water boosts their immune systems.

The Chernobyl Childrens Project usually bring 12 children aged between 9 and 16 to Rochdale for a month in July and August. They stay with volunteer host families for a fortnight then move to another family. There is 24/7 support for families from the rest of the group who are experienced host parents and from a Belarusian interpreter and doctor who accompany the children.

Group activities are planned roughly every three days so that children get to talk to each other and have fun. There are trips to the seaside, swimming, country walks, karting, water sports, ice skating and visits to historical towns, amongst many other local activities, such as Rochdale's Circus School and Pandemonium Drumming Workshop.