LocationsChernobyl: A Legacy of Loss, a Future Reclaimed
April 26, 2025
Each year, the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day serves as a powerful reminder of the nuclear accident of 1986 that displaced hundreds of thousands, caused long-lasting environmental damage, and brought significant health consequences for those exposed to radiation. Nearly four decades on, Chernobyl is no longer just a story of loss. It became a symbol of resilience, partnership, and progress.
For Belarus, the damage was staggering. Contaminating 23% of the country’s territory, the disaster caused $13.7 billion in lost economic opportunities and erased 470 villages from the map forever.
Abandoned village in Belarus’ Chernobyl exclusion zone
From emergency response to sustainable growth
In 2006, UNDP took the responsibility of coordinating the UN activities in the Chernobyl-related activities in Belarus, working hand-in-hand with the affected communities, local partners, donors, and private sector.
With over 200 programmes and projects on healthcare, economic growth, radiological education, social inclusion and nature protection, traumatized territories have become centers of innovation, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship.
In healthcare, over 34,000 people have benefited from initiatives aimed at preventing non-communicable diseases and promoting healthier lifestyles.
In agriculture, farmers adopted new technologies to cultivate safe, clean produce on land once deemed unusable.
Recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability, UNDP has joined forces with the Ministry of Environment and local authorities to rehabilitate valuable ecosystems such as peatlands and floodplain meadows - both key to biodiversity and climate resilience.
In 2022, 330 tons of Persistent Organic Pollutants were removed from the Mogilev and Gomel regions, reducing environmental risks and protecting public health. Meanwhile, a growing network of green schools is educating young people about climate action, biodiversity, and sustainable living, nurturing a new generation of environmental stewards.
Economic revitalization has become a cornerstone of the transformation. More than 100 small business initiatives have received over $2 million in support, resulting in the creation of over 600 jobs and the introduction of 335 new products and services.
In the Brahin and Khoiniki districts, cluster-based entrepreneurship emerged, while and e-commerce tools are connecting local SMEs to bigger markets
At the policy level, the Regional Strategies for Sustainable Development are set to mark a milestone in translating the SDGs into tangible, local action. In the Gomel region, a long-term vision for 2040 is being developed, and in the Mogilev oblast, the existing strategy is being revised with UNDP’s support.
Looking ahead: Future defined by resilience
While considerable progress has been made, much remains to be done to equip the communities to deal with the challenges ahead.
As climate change turns forests Belarus’ forests and peatlands into tinderboxes, in the Chernobyl-affected areas, wildfires pose a particular risk. When forests burn, trapped radionuclides are released back into the atmosphere, contaminating air, soil, and crops. In 2020, radiation levels spiked 16 times above normal due to fires.
With US$2 million of funding from China’s Global Development Fund (GDF), UNDP and the Ministry of Environment will deliver a new project to fight forest fires in the Chernobyl affected regions of Belarus.
Real-time monitoring and early-warning systems, specialized firefighting gear, and community training programs – all these will not only protect nature but empower citizens to play an active role in fire management.
Access to quality healthcare is another challenge in rural districts recovering from the Chernobyl disaster, where long distances often separate communities from critical medical services.
With support from China, a new Inter-Regional Medical Center in the Mozyr City Hospital will serve 6 rural districts, offering cutting-edge equipment and life-saving technologies to those who need it most. By strengthening primary care and digitalizing services, even the most remote communities gain access to life-saving diagnostics and treatment. Once proven, this model can expand across Belarus and help close the healthcare gap for isolated communities, even during future pandemics.
Lastly, the affected territories need new jobs and innovation to improve livelihoods and ensure everyone can participate in the economy and community life.
This year, 11 SDG pilot initiatives will be launched in the Mogilev and Gomel regions. In Bobruisk, AI will be leveraged for medical diagnostics. In rural areas, young people will receive training in precision agriculture and 3D modelling to face the jobs of the future. And in Mozyr, Belarus’ first coffee training centre for people with disabilities will open, fostering inclusion.
Chernobyl's legacy is lasting. Yet, through strong partnerships, community leadership, and sustainable solutions, UNDP in Belarus is committed to transforming the affected regions into spaces of renewal.
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