Enhancing Chernobyl policies to promote development

Immediately after the Chernobyl catastrophe in April 1986 until 1991, Governments placed priority on preventing new nuclear explosions, evacuation, resettlement, cleanup and immediate medical treatment. In the second stage of handling the aftermath of the explosion, in 1991-2001, the first priority was to mitigate human consequences of the catastrophe and to respond to an unfolding public health crisis; the current legal and institutional framework for handling the disaster was established at this time. The present third stage started in 2002. It goes beyond minimizing the consequences of the catastrophe, rather aiming to maximize social and economic recovery, and sustainable human development of the affected population and territories. The new strategy under preparation stresses the need to put the affected communities and individuals on the road from welfare dependence to social and economic growth. This strategy mobilizes and supports the people of the affected communities in organizing self-governing structures to take the lead in planning, managing and implementing their own social, economic and ecological rehabilitation and development