CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY 

Statement of Mr. Kenzo Oshima
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
United Nations Coordinator for International Cooperation on Chernobyl

 International Conference “Fifteen Years After the Chernobyl Accident: Lessons Learned”  Kiev, 18-20 April 2001 

Distinguished Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great honour for me to be here with you today.  As the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, I would like to thank the Government of Ukraine and the Organizing Committee, for convening this very important event. 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, who pays particular attention to this complex issue, has asked me to deliver a message on his behalf.  I quote: 

“It is a pleasure to send my greetings to all of you who have gathered for this important conference that will take stock of the lessons learnt fifteen years after the Chernobyl accident. 

          In the ten years it has been engaged with Chernobyl, the United Nations system has endeavoured to address the diverse effects of this terrible accident.  Therefore, we look forward with interest to the forthcoming exchange of views, which will help all of us to draw valuable lessons for the future, not only for the people affected by the Chernobyl disaster but also to ensure that such a tragic event will never recur.   

          I trust that this conference will provide ideas on how to strengthen emergency preparedness worldwide and to address the recovery needs of the contaminated areas, which continue to be affected by the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.   

          Solidarity, transparency and understanding must prevail for humanity to prevent and cope effectively with industrial accidents as well as other types of emergencies.   

          The future of our children is at stake.  With this in mind, I wish you success in your deliberations.”  That is the end of the Secretary-General’s message. 

Mr. Chairman, 

As you will recall, in 1990, the United Nations General Assembly entrusted the UN Secretariat with the task of strengthening international cooperation and coordination of assistance to the victims of Chernobyl.  Since 1993, the role of United Nations Coordinator for Chernobyl has been assumed by the Under‑Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.  As I recently took up this function, my predecessor, Mr. Vieira de Mello, stressed that my responsibilities also included the Chernobyl portfolio.  When I heard the word “Chernobyl” my thoughts immediately went to the sacrifices of the people and their courage in overcoming the trauma and lingering effects of nuclear radiation.  I know, personally, what all this means because as a Japanese national I come from a city whose history was marked by a nuclear catastrophe: Hiroshima.

I would like, first of all, to express my sympathy with and pay tribute to the courage of the people of the most affected regions in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.  Over the past 15 years, they have endured the hardships of living in a contaminated land.  In the face of an invisible danger, they persevered in their efforts to return their families and communities to a state of normalcy.  Many of the victims were not even born at the time of the accident, but still face the physical, psychological, environmental and socio-economic consequences.  These challenges persist and they require that courage and perseverance be transmitted from one generation to another.  The extraordinary efforts aimed at mitigating the consequences and rehabilitating the economies in the affected areas, demonstrate the strength of character of the people.  They deserve our praise, encouragement and support. 

          Let us also recall the most recent developments related to Chernobyl.   It entailed serious sacrifice for Ukraine to decide on the closure of the Chernobyl plant last December. Not only did Ukraine lose part of its energy production but also hundreds of Ukrainians lost their livelihoods.  In addition, the country needs to spend large sums on the reconstruction of the structure that encases the shattered No. 4 reactor and the radioactive fuel inside.  By closing the Chernobyl plant, Ukraine has made the reduction of nuclear risk a priority, accepting the financial consequences.  This act, again, deserves praise, encouragement and support from the international community. 

          Mr. Chairman, 

This conference is called to review the lessons learned from the tragic accident and to examine the way ahead.  It is not the first time that we have embarked on such an exercise.  Four years ago, in 1997, my predecessor, Mr. Akashi, organized an international seminar on humanitarian assistance to victims of technological disasters.  That seminar, which was hosted by the Government of the Russian Federation, offered many important lessons.  Let me cite some of them which remain pertinent today.  

-         First, the plain truth that technology is a double-edged sword; it has vastly enriched human life but also holds the potential for massive destruction;

-         Second, the location of human settlements must take into account proximity to technological hazards; 

-         Third, the public should be made aware of the inherent danger of new technologies, which should be weighted against economic benefit; 

-         Fourth, safeguards against technological hazards must be embedded in the rules and regulations governing our lives and our work; and, 

-         Finally, every player needs the humility to accept that it cannot cope alone with technological disaster. 

In addition to these general precepts, a number of specific lessons have emerged from our experience with the Chernobyl catastrophe. 

I.  Emergency preparedness.

First, we have recognized the importance of emergency preparedness.  It is critical for Governments and communities to develop an effective emergency capacity that can be rapidly mobilized.  Well-trained and well-equipped emergency personnel can make a difference. While building an emergency capacity, it is also crucial to develop the means to protect the personnel before, during and after the disaster.  

In order to reduce the vulnerability of the population to future accidents, Governments and communities must continue to commit resources to emergency preparedness.  In this context, I would like to pay tribute to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has played a valuable role in the Chernobyl situation.  Countries must support IAEA’s work to promote international safety regime and to enhance nuclear preparedness.

II.  Resource mobilization 

The second lesson is that while containing the problem and preventing any further leakage, the international community has not fully addressed the challenges of the disaster in the human dimension.  Enormous resources are still required to address the social, economic, health, environmental and psychosocial effects of the Chernobyl accident.  Thanks to the generosity of many countries, the construction of the Sarcophagus should be entirely completed by 2005.  I would urge donors to show the same level of generosity in supporting socio-economic rehabilitation in the affected areas. 

III.  Information-sharing: early warning and transparency. 

It is important to educate the population at risk about the actual effects of radiation or at least to inform them of measures that should be taken to mitigate the effects of exposure to dangerous levels of nuclear radiation.  Combined with effective early warning mechanisms, this shared knowledge would strengthen communities’ capacity to react to the accident and avert the humanitarian effects of the emergency.   In the case of Chernobyl, restrictions on information flow before and after the accident were highly detrimental to the population.  In life-threatening circumstances such as a nuclear accident, local, regional and national authorities owe the truth to their people.  

IV.  Advocacy efforts. 

With these lessons in mind, my Office has focused its efforts on raising awareness of the current Chernobyl-related needs.  Last year we organized a media trip to the region, which led to heightened press coverage.  We must not allow Chernobyl to become a forgotten crisis.  It is our intention to use the 15^th anniversary to raise the profile of the needs of the affected populations and stress the need to support UN aid efforts for Chernobyl.  A number of events are planned both in New York and Geneva involving press, donors and NGOs. 

V.  Transitional strategy. 

Mr. Chairman, 

The Chernobyl disaster has been on the UN agenda as an emergency item for 10 years.  This autumn, the Secretary-General is requested to submit to the General Assembly, proposals for optimizing the effectiveness of the response of the international community to the Chernobyl disaster.  The disaster took place 15 years ago and many donors now see the needs in the affected regions as primarily those of longer-term social and economic development.  I believe that, bearing this in mind a new strategy is needed within the UN to better address current needs.  And this strategy would be to explore the possibility of greater engagement of the development agencies, such as UNDP, with of course strong involvement of UNICEF and WHO. 

This new strategy includes an inter-agency assessment, which will provide the necessary facts for relevant agencies to develop programmes tailored to the current needs of the affected communities. 

I met with the Ministers of Emergencies from Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine yesterday to discuss this strategy and exchange views on the future course of action.  We agreed on the need for a more developmental approach. 

As we move toward a new strategy to deal more effectively with the needs of the affected people and communities, I would like to assure you that I will do my best to make sure that your efforts are not forgotten and that the international community will learn the lessons that you have taught us.