Statement by Kathy Ryan, Chernobyl Children International, Reception

“Rarely does a single word become so powerful, that it can tell the story of a million lives. Chernobyl is one such word.” This is Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan endorsing the International Remembrance Day earlier this week. For many of us here, the adoption of this day of commemoration is the culmination of over 3 decades of work. This day will be our legacy to the generations of people who have been, and will continue to be, affected by the world’s worst nuclear disaster. Thank you, Ambassador Dapkiunas, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of to the , for the coordination of these important commemorations. Adi Roche and wish they could be here, but they are in Belarus right now with a team of medical volunteers, and in tomorrow. Also this week, our convoy will deliver aid throughout Belarus, and a team of international cardiac surgeons will save children’s lives in Kharkiv, Ukraine. This exhibition is a great reflection of both the human and environmental impact of the disaster. While we rightfully celebrate the healing power of compassion, compassion is not enough. We must remain vigilant in our commitment to ensure that Chernobyl becomes progressively safer. A sobering thought: While the decrepit sarcophagus has been confined, 180 tons of radioactive material is still rumbling inside, material that will be toxic for the next 3000 years. The international community must prioritize the environmental and technological challenges of dealing with this deadly legacy. Chernobyl Children International wish to publicly rededicate our commitment to the victims of the disaster on this historic day. Since 1986, our work has evolved; what started as emergency humanitarian relief has developed to include a network of local partnerships in training, life-saving intervention, capacity building and — significantly — a commitment to work with Belarus in supporting the right of children and people with disabilities to live outside of institutions and orphanages — in the community and with families — through legislation and regulation and the right kind of donor investments. I’m proud to be a citizen of both the United States and Ireland — and with that in mind I would like to pay homage to the unique response Ireland has had in supporting the affected countries in the 31 years since the disaster. It gives me great pride to bring you this statement from Michael D. Higgins, :

Statement by Kathy Ryan, Chernobyl Children International, Reception