Ukraine thanks Cuba for aid to "Chernobyl kids"
Date: 19-Jun-00
Country: CUBA
"We thank President Fidel Castro and the Cuban people, who received these
children as if they were their own," Kuchma said during a ceremony, attended by
Castro, at the Tarara health centre east of Havana where the children have been
treated.
Since the Chernobyl accident, communist-run Cuba has treated about 15,000
children - mainly from Ukraine but also from neighbouring Byelorussia and Russia
- and 3,000 adults.
Some 200 children are still living at Tarara.
"Cuba has given back life to all these children," said Kuchma in a ceremony to
present some $100,000 worth of aid to the centre including medicine, electronics
and toys.
Kuchma was due to leave Cuba late on Saturday after a two-day visit that was also
intended to boost trade relations, including a possible deal to supply Ukrainian
agricultural machinery in return for Cuban sugar.
