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Belarus, Ukraine: No More Gratis UK Visas for Chernobyl Children?

Categories: Eastern & Central Europe, Western Europe, Belarus, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Digital Activism, Disaster, Environment, Governance, Health, Humanitarian Response, International Relations, Protest

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According to this online petition [1], bringing Belarusian and Ukrainian children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster to the UK for recuperative charity-sponsored visits will soon cost an additional £86 per child in visa fees.


Odessablogger posts an open letter [2] to the UK Foreign Office, questioning the decision to stop issuing gratis visas for Chernobyl children:

[…] It seems strange to be continuing to acknowledge the on-going legacy of Chernobyl by throwing in a few million quid into the EU pot aimed at finally sealing the leaking reactor and yet to be quibbling over the cost of 6 month visitors Visas for a small number of sick children. […]