"Born From Pain : The Children of Chornobyl" Kiev Travelogue by Klod5

Kiev Travel Guide: 1,971 reviews and 3,830 photos

On April 26, 1986, reactor #4 at the Chornobyl* Atomic Energy Station in northern Ukraine exploded. As a result, an estimated 260 million curies of radiation were released. This is approximately 200 times more radiation than was released by the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Radiation from Chornobyl rained down on unsuspecting victims and their unborn children in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia contaminating some of the world's richest soil and condemning millions of people to future illnesses and death.

* in french Tchernobil

Martushka, Lviv Regional Children's Clinic

Less than a year after this photograph of Martushka was taken, went to the hospital searching for her. They had used this photograph to raise awareness of the plight of children in Ukraine suffering from cancer and planned to give her some sort of a scholarship. When they showed the doctors who had worked with Martushka the photo, they said they were too late, she had already passed away.

Lviv Regional Children's Specialized Clinic

A young mother holds her son before he is to start radiation treatment. I have always been overwhelmed at how children with cancer appear as if they know more about life than they should at such a young age. Their facial expressions seem to resemble the manner of adults.

Poltava Maternity Hospital

This infant warmer, along with an incubator, was installed by the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund. Within 1 year infant mortality was reduced by 85%.

Infectious Disease Hospital, Simpheropyl, Crimea

Infectious Disease Hospital

Crimea is an autonomous region in Ukraine. There are no laws on how to deal with children who are HIV-positive and abandoned. Orphaned children are placed in the Infectious Disease Hospital. As well as being HIV-positive, this child also has a clef palate. It is doubtful that she will receive the simple cosmetic surgery to correct her birth defect.

Orphanage, Zaluchya

Orphanage, Zaluchya, Ukraine

An orphanage worker stands between a child's wrapped body and an empty coffin. This room is used to store bodies of recently deceased children before thier burial.

Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Parishiv Village

This woman's family lived in Parish, which is in the 30-kilometer exclusion zone, for generations. The exclusion zone is supposedly off limits to human habitation due to the high level of radioactive contamination. However, several hundred people, mostly elderly, have returned to the highly radioactive land. Several years ago she came back to her home to live and die in her native village.

Chornobyl Exclusion Zone

Chornobyl's last operating reactor (#3) was officially shut down on December 15, 2000. The 15th anniversary of the disaster was April 26, 2001. The public needs to be informed that exposure to the radioactive fallout of Chornobyl continues to destroy lives. The total number of those affected may not be realized for at least another fifteen years.

Today Ukraine is facing a health crisis. The quiet cries for help from sick children must be heard. Informing the public of the health effects of Chornobyl will give a voice to these innocent but unfortunate children.

THE WORLD CAN NOT AFFORD TO IGNORE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN UKRAINE. WE MUST LEARN FROM THIS NUCLEAR DISASTER.

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Page Updated Nov 6, 2004
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Comments (16)

viejito Feb 8, 2008 at 3:25 AM Report Abuse

What you get at those tanks in summer is a low alcoholic drink called Kvas made from fermented bread. It should be served cool, but sometimes unfortunately it gets warm
sourbugger Apr 5, 2007 at 3:00 AM Report Abuse

always interesting to see how a place can change so very quickly
starship Mar 2, 2006 at 11:36 AM Report Abuse

Great information and pictures on your page!! It is a shame that people still suffer the effects of radiation. It's sad to see that medical facilities appear to take a backseat to transportation systems.
nepalgoods Nov 1, 2005 at 10:13 PM Report Abuse

Kiev looks beautiful! I would like to visit Kiev one day.
magor65 Oct 6, 2005 at 12:54 PM Report Abuse

I fully share your enthusiasm for Kiev. Thanks for this interesting page
Lensa Nov 7, 2004 at 6:08 AM Report Abuse

Hi, Claude! You have great interesting pages! I enjoyed reading them, and looking through pics!
Bobek Nov 3, 2004 at 12:04 AM Report Abuse

Your pictures and descriptions touch my heart - and make me sad being reminded of the Chornobyl catastrophe and all the suffering. Very well done and very informative on other topics, too. I also like the Metro infos. Great! Thank you!
Azhut May 8, 2004 at 11:16 AM Report Abuse

J'ai aimé ta page tu as bien travaillé, bravo :-)
hunterV Jul 6, 2003 at 10:30 AM Report Abuse

Claude, you have wonderful pictures and descriptions!
catnl May 10, 2003 at 11:05 AM Report Abuse

Fantastic update! great pics!