United Nations Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day Message from President Michael D. Higgins

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, has welcomed the commemoration of the inaugural “Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day”, which was ratified by the United Nations in December 2016 following Adi Roche’s landmark address on the 30th Anniversary of the devastating accident.

 “As Uachtarán na hEireann, I join with others across the globe who will today mark “United Nations Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day”.  On this terrible day, 31 years ago, the world’s worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl in the Ukraine occurred.  It was a dark day in human history.”

On the 30th anniversary of the accident at Chernobyl Adi Roche, founder and voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI) addressed a special session of the United Nations General Assembly and made the suggestion that, as part of a campaign to raise global awareness of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, April 26th should be designatedas Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.

12 months later, the global community will be welcomed to come together for the first time, by the United Nations, to commemorate the disaster and remember the generations of victims who have been and will be affected for years to come.

On the significant role that Ireland and Chernobyl Children International have played in the relief efforts since the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, President Higgins said;

“Ireland’s response was unique; we were one of the first countries to respond to the humanitarian crisis by providing support for and meeting the needs of thousands of Chernobyl’s victims.  Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International has become a world leader in supporting and advocating for the children who were affected by the Chernobyl disaster across the stricken regions.”

“Across 3 generations Chernobyl Children International has maintained this pioneering role through the extraordinary work of its tens of thousands of volunteers.  In recognition of this incredible magnitude of work and advocacy, CCI has been internationally recognised by the United Nations as the only UN sanctioned NGO working in the Chernobyl region.”

United Nations Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day Message from President Michael D. Higgins

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Dear Friend

Thirty-one years ago today at 01.23am on 26 April 1986 ,at a relatively new nuclear power plant, an accident occurred that should never have happened, This accident that changed the lives of millions of people.

Exactly one year ago I had the great honour of addressing the United Nations General Assembly, never believing that just one year later we would be commemorating the inaugural day of remembrance for Chernobyl and it's victims. 

The United Nations Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is being commemorated all over world today and in advance of today, I have been reminiscing about the journey it has taken for us to get this global response. 

I look at this April 26th as a "first". It is the first time in 31 years that the International Community will be globally welcomed to come together to commemorate this cataclysmic disaster and its innocent victims. This day of commemoration is our legacy to the future generations, who will undoubtedly be affected by an accident that happened long before their birth.  We've seen many 'firsts' as a result of the Chernobyl disaster, but hopefully this one will have as long of a lasting affect as the accident itself. 

It is now our responsibility, as global citizens, to partake in building of this legacy and take action to remember not only today but for many years to come.  Let us send a message of hope, compassion and comraderyto the past and future generations of Chernobyl Children.  A message to say "You are not alone".

I thank you for your support and look forward to building this legacy together with you.