U.S. government-sponsored airlift lands in Kyiv with $11.1 M in aid (05/05/96)

U.S. government-sponsored airlift lands in Kyiv with $11.1 M in aid

by Marta Kolomayets
Kyiv Press Bureau

BORYSPIL, Ukraine - An Antonov -124 cargo plane (Ruslan) laden with humanitarian aid - including pharmaceutical products and medical supplies - arrived at Kyiv's International Airport at noon on April 25.

Sponsored by the U.S. government, this relief mission to help victims who suffer from the consequences of the April 1986 explosion at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was planned in observance of the 10th anniversary of the world's worst civil nuclear accident.

Similar aid missions to Belarus and Moldova on April 23 and April 27, respectively, were also conducted to help Chornobyl victims.

The mission - which included the participation of such private organizations as the Short Hills, N.J.-based Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund and various private companies - combined the efforts of the government and private sectors to provide donations to those who continue to need medical care.

Greeting the airlift earmarked for Ukraine on the sunny Thursday afternoon, Ambassador Richard Morningstar, special adviser to President Bill Clinton and the secretary of state for assistance to the NIS, read Mr. Clinton's letter to President Leonid Kuchma:

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the individuals and families who are still suffering from the devastating effects of Chornobyl. You and your fellow Ukrainians who are working to prevent the occurrence of such a disaster have my deep respect, admiration and support. The United States fully supports your efforts to prevent another tragedy like Chornobyl. This is a goal of the highest order. Our endeavors today will benefit, not only current, but future generations of Ukrainians and people everywhere," President Clinton noted.

Also greeting the airlift were U.S. Ambassador William Green Miller, who helped cut the ribbon at the unloading ceremonies, and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Vasyl Durdynets, who was the U.S. government's contact in Ukraine.

"President Clinton's words, which we just heard, this airlift and various other actions exemplify the solidarity between the American and Ukrainian people, and underscores how deeply and sincerely our pain is felt by Americans. Today's mission offers very important political, moral and financial support, especially for those who have suffered because of Chornobyl," explained Mr. Durdynets, during a brief press conference on the airfield.

Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund President Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky and the chairman of the board, Joseph A. Vena, as well as Monsanto Co. representative Robert Noels were also on hand for this historic occasion, as was Valerie Burachinsky, CCRF cargo coordinator, who arrived on what Ambassador Morningstar called the "biggest plane I've ever seen in my life."

"This assistance that is being provided is given by the United States government as well as private individuals and the private sector; $11.1 million of medical supplies, drugs and pharmaceuticals are being delivered today to the victims of Chornobyl. I would like to thank the private sector, organizations and companies that have helped to contribute to this effort. They include Project Hope, Americares, Eli Lilly, the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, Monsanto, Pharmacia Upjohn, Biotechnologia, Medfarm and City Hope International. And we also commend the efforts of the government of Ukraine and the Counterpart Foundation for their efforts in making this event possible today," added Ambassador Morningstar.

"Ten years ago, a tragic event occurred affecting not only Ukraine, but all of mankind," observed Ambassador Miller. "Americans are very honored to be able to work with Ukrainians because American blood has Ukrainian blood flowing through its veins. So I am very honored as ambassador to this great country of Ukraine to receive this gift from the American government, from American business to the people of Ukraine," he concluded.

The airlift, part of the medical assistance promised by U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher during his visit to Ukraine in March, comprised donations from the U.S. government (including U.S. Department of Defense excess medical stockpiles), Project Hope and Americares.

But the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund continues to lead the list of organizations that consistently provide assistance to the victims of the Chornobyl tragedy.

Since 1989, the CCRF has participated in 16 airlifts and five sea shipments of medical aid to Ukraine, valued at more than $36 million. This U.S. government airlift on April 25 was the 17th such mission that the CCRF has taken part in and included more than $1.3 million of high-quality pharmaceuticals collected by this humanitarian aid charity fund.

Currently, the CCRF has engaged the Monsanto Company and its two subsidiaries - Searle and NutraSweetKelco - to provide medicines and initiate projects that will help those affected by the accident.

"In the decade since the disaster, it has become clear that there is a continuing need for aid. We cannot forget that tens of thousands of people's lives continue to be affected by this tragedy," said Mr. Noels, the general manager of Monsanto-Central Europe/CIS.

Monsanto has donated - through the CCRF - the antibiotic Flagyl, a Searle product, and the drug Algisorb (which can reduce the effects of food contaminated with strontium-90), a product of Nutra-Sweet Kelco and the Russian company Biotechnologia, to the citizens of Ukraine.

It also plans to sponsor a mobile medical aid project, which will bring much-needed access to basic health check-ups and referrals to people in rural communities of the Dnipropetrovske, Luhanske and Vinnytsia regions, offering early pregnancy testing and ultrasound screenings for expectant mothers.

"Monsanto hopes that this assistance, while offering immediate relief to people who may be suffering as a result of the explosion, will also bring long-term improvements in the quality of life in Ukraine," said Mr. Noels.

"The medical consequences of this disaster will become more, not less evident in the next 10 years," said Nadia Matkiwsky, the executive director of the CCRF, who spoke at a press conference on April 24.

"And our commitment to the most vulnerable victims of this disaster, the infants, the children, adolescents, young adults - the next generation - will become even stronger."

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