Belarus cursed by Chernobyl - BBC news report

Three hours' drive north of Komarin, Doctor Valentina Smolnikova has to deal with the consequences.

Baby Christina was born with a serious heart defect her family blame on the after-effects of Chernobyl. It cannot be proven - but the radioactive fallout reached this area too.


Many houses in Belarus were abandoned after the accident
It is not only 10-month-old Christina who is sick.

Her grandmother's neck is badly disfigured by a tumour on her thyroid; her two teenage aunts have the same condition; two other close relatives have cancer.


Like most people in the affected zone, grandmother Valia keeps her own cow for milk, and grows most of the family's food on their allotment.

She knows there is a risk of contamination, but confesses she has never checked.


"I think the less you know the better," Valia whispers, her breathing shallow, obstructed by the tumour.

"Even if we found out our food was contaminated, we'd still eat it, we'd have no alternative.

"But the fear will always remain. It's not fair, but there are so many sick people here, and you can't evacuate them all."


Doctor Smolnikova checks baby Christina's heart through her stethoscope, and advises Valia on the chances of an operation.

She has a long list of other patients like them.


"Those who say there is no link with Chernobyl should open their eyes and look at the medical statistics," Doctor Smolnikova says.

She has been the village doctor here since long before the nuclear disaster.


"Before Chernobyl I'd never seen a child with cancer. Now it's common.


"I treat many more children now with heart defects and kidney damage. To say it's nothing to do with Chernobyl just isn't honest."