MINSK, 25 February (BelTA) - Spanish charities intend to continue the program for the recuperation of Belarusian children from Chernobyl-affected territories, President of the Spanish Federation of Social Assistance to Belarusian Children (FEDASIB) Jose Antonio Dominguez Serrano said as he met with Director of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate Valery Skakun, BelTA has learned.
The event was held as part of the effort to coordinate the activities of foreign charities and Belarusian public organizations. The foreign delegation included the leaders and representatives of Spanish charities that host Belarusian children for recuperation. It is symbolic that this meeting took place in the run-up to the events to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy.
“Over the past 11 years Spain has provided free aid to Belarus worth $3.8 million,” Valery Skakun said. The money has been used to implement the children's recuperation programs, strengthen the physical infrastructure of children's institutions of education and healthcare, provide assistance to low-income citizens, families with many children, single-parent families, orphaned children, and children with disabilities.
Valery Skakun thanked the Spanish charities and Spanish families for many years of humanitarian assistance and help in mitigating the Chernobyl impact.
The international community has made significant efforts to minimize the Chernobyl consequences, and took an active part in a wide range of humanitarian projects. Spanish charities have been helping Belarus since 1993. In 1993-2015 alone they hosted over 80,000 Belarusian children, more than 50% of the children coming from districts of Gomel Oblast hit the worst by the Chernobyl accident.
The meeting discussed the plans of activity of Spanish charities, including for the summer 2016. The guests also told the Belarusian colleagues about the activities undertaken with the framework of the European Action Week 2016. 30th anniversary of Chernobyl.
Partnership relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Kingdom of Spain were formalized in the intergovernmental agreement on the terms of recuperation of Belarusian minor citizens in Spain. The document was signed on 1 June 2009 with the support of the FEDASIB.
More about SocietyBack to list
