Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day observed today

Kathmandu, April 26: The International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is being marked today to remember the victims of the 1986 nuclear accident and highlight its long-term impacts.

The United Nations General Assembly designated April 26 as the remembrance day through a resolution adopted on December 8, 2016. The resolution noted that even decades after the disaster, serious and lasting consequences remain, and affected communities continue to face ongoing challenges.

First observed in 2017, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

The accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, where an explosion released radioactive material across large parts of the former Soviet Union, particularly in present-day Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. Around 8.4 million people were exposed to radiation.

Since the incident, the United Nations has been working with the governments of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine on recovery and development efforts in affected areas. Alongside immediate humanitarian assistance, long-term programmes have focused on rehabilitation, reducing radiation exposure, providing medical support and studying the health effects of the disaster.