More than 140 children from orphanages and homes in Belarus still affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident of 1986 have arrived in Ireland today for a month of respite with host families.
Their stay has been organised by Adi Roche's Chernobyl Children's charity, which has brought more than 25,000 children to Ireland since 1991.
The World Health Organisation says around five million people are currently living in areas of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine with high levels of radiation.
A 30km exclusion zone around Chernobyl remains one of the most radioactive places on Earth.
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— Cathy Halloran (@HalloranCathy) June 27, 2018
Huge excitement in Shannon for the arrival of 145 Chernobyl children for for a holiday here some coming to the same families for 20 years@rte news pic.twitter.com/AiSd0FxgnV
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Big welcome hugs in Shannon for 145 Chernobyl kids here to rest and recuperate with host families some to the same families for 20 years pic.twitter.com/GHyhj8prHC
— Cathy Halloran (@HalloranCathy) June 27, 2018
Read more:
The Legacy of Chernobyl - The Children
