Belarus' Ten Years After Chernobyl'

Abstract

A recognized world authority on the history and consequences of the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl' nuclear power plant examines the present impact of the accident on the economy and society of Belarus'. An initial section focuses on the geography of radioactive contamination within the republic, followed by sections on evacuation procedures and official programs of assistance, living conditions within the contaminated zone, and the role played by international charitable institutions vis-a-vis the government in providing long-term assistance to those seriously affected by the accident. Political considerations underlying the involvement of government and grassroots organizations in Chernobyl' assistance programs are explored. 1 table, 1 figure, 32 references.