UKRAINE: The founder of the Chernobyl Children's Project has warned New York that another nuclear catastrophe could occur at the Chernobyl site, writes Sean O'Driscoll, New York
In an address yesterday at the UN headquarters to mark the 18th anniversary of the disaster, Cork-born Ms Adi Roche urged a fast-tracking of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) which will see the construction of a large shield to cover the deteriorating concrete sarcophagus of the destroyed nuclear reactor. She warned that were real fears that the existing cover could collapse into the reactor beneath it.
Ms Roche said that the CSF, due to be completed by 2007, has yet to begin and said that delays would only increase the likelihood of a further nuclear disaster at the damaged Reactor No 4. The beams of the temporary concrete sarcophagus are corroding, she warned.
Ms Roche said the situation was urgent as only 3 per cent of the nuclear fuel contained in the reactor was expelled in the 1986 blast, leaving 216 tonnes of uranium and plutonium and 30 tonnes of radioactive dust behind. This has led many scientists to the opinion that a further explosion at the nuclear reactor would hasten an even more serious environmental disaster than that which occurred in 1986.
Ms Roche also said that denying children a secure future is "a form of genocide" that should not be tolerated. She added that there no was greater arrogance that ignoring the plight of children and said that all present should "demand that the future for Chernobyl children is one where their health is not blighted with the deadly invasion of nuclear contamination." Ms Roche warned that positive words must be followed by real action.
"We are sharing the burden, we are breaking the isolation, we are reaching out and 'doing something'. I emphasise the 'doing something' because fine words will never feed a hungry child."