Republic

Over 44,000 Belarusian children enjoy recreation abroad in 2007 thanks to gratuitous foreign aid

Last year in line with programmes for Belarus’ humanitarian cooperation with foreign non-governmental organisations 44,500 children enjoyed recreation in 23 countries thanks to gratuitous foreign aid. BelTA learnt from Alexander Kolyada, Director of the Humanitarian Activities Department of the Belarus Presidential Property Management Directorate, 43,700 children enjoyed recreation as part of general organised groups and 800 children enjoyed recreation as part of special organised groups. Like in previous years the most welcoming countries were Italy (21,500 children), Germany (8,300), the UK (2,900), Spain (2,700), Ireland (2,200), Belgium (1,700), the USA (1,200), and the Netherlands (1,100). Alexander Kolyada underlined, humanitarian projects for children rehabilitation abroad cover all parts of the country and primarily the areas affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe such as the Gomel oblast — 19,200 children or 43% of the total number of children, who travelled abroad for recreation, and the Mogilev oblast — 8,700 children or 19%. When general organised groups of children are sent for rehabilitation abroad, priority is given to children and underage Belarusians, who live in radionuclide-polluted territories (39%), children from large families and low-income families (roughly 21%), children from children’s homes and boarding schools (nearly 15%). In special groups children with oncological diseases in remission stage account for the largest part, children with diseases of internal organs — 15%, children with blood diseases — 13%. Following an instruction given by the President an intergovernmental Belarusian-Italian agreement on conditions of rehabilitation provided to underage Belarusians in Italy on the basis of gratuitous foreign aid was signed in Minsk on May 10, 2007. According to Alexander Kolyada, the agreement created the legal environment to secure the rights and interests of Belarusian children, who temporarily stay in Italy, at the state level and their timely return to the home country after rehabilitation. In 2007 no attempts by Italian families to force kids stay with them after rehabilitation were registered.