ONE of the biggest airlift of child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster began yesterday with the arrival at Shannon airport of 165 children from the stricken area.
But a last minute blunder by Aeroflot meant that 32 children - due to arrive in Dublin today were left without seats. It was not clear when they would travel to Ireland.
Last night Ms Adi Roche, director of the Cork based Chernobyl Children's Project, said the airline's treatment of the children was unbelievable.
This year, the Project will bring 1,200 youngsters from the worst affected region, Belarus, as well as western Russia.
The children, many suffering from thyroid cancer, will receive medical treatment here and will be given much needed drugs before they return home at the end of the summer.
They will be accommodated by host families throughout Munster. Some will fly on to Boston where other host families have been arranged.
Yesterday, Ms Roche, said the 10th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear disaster was being marked by the biggest airlift of Belarussian children since the Cork based voluntary organisation began.
Today, some 600 children will arrive in four aeroplanes from the Chernobyl area, and on Sunday next, a further 80 will fly into Shannon. Ms Roche said the cost of bringing the children to Ireland was estimated at £60,000. The money was raised by volunteers around the country.
Two Russian boys, Vitaly (9) and Sasha (11) who have already undergone major heart surgery in Ireland, arrived with the first at Shannon yesterday, and were later taken to Crumlin hospital where their progress will be monitored before their holiday begins. The boys underwent surgery last year, but their young friend, Evgeniya, also suffering from heart problems, died at the Mercy Hospital in Cork from a massive heart attack.
Before her remains were flown back to Belarus, her mother travelled to Cork and in an emotional speech at the hospital, thanked the Chernobyl Children's Project for giving her daughter an additional few months of life.