The Magic of Winter Holidays at CRIS Center

CHISINAU, December 22, 2011 — Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta visited Thursday, December 22, the Republican Center of Social Integration and Rehabilitation “CRIS” from Chisinau, hosting children affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

On the eve of winter holidays, the Defense Minister brought sweets to children and talked with them about the magic of winter holidays. On Christmas, one of the most beautiful holidays of Christian people, marking the Birth of God and on the New Year’s Eve, Minister Vitalie Marinuta wished children to be healthy and all their dreams to come true.

The director of “CRIS” Center, Natalia Hasan, stated the social protection of children with birth malformations is a duty of the state. The Ministry of Defense is always concerned about the children of this Republican Center of Social Integration and Rehabilitation.

“Some of the parents of these children were servicemen engaged in the Chernobyl accident consequence liquidation process. Unfortunately, the nuclear impact affected the new generation and children are innocent creatures that do not deserve that”, Natalia Hasan said.

The latest UN investigation concluded the nuclear disaster still affects people’s health. Scientists say leukemia, malformations and other diseases are due to the Chernobyl disaster. The worst consequence is the thyroid cancer affecting children.

The nuclear accident held April 26, 1986, in Chernobyl is considered the most serious atomic catastrophe of the 20^th century. Official data reveal that over 3500 Republic of Moldova citizens took part in the disaster consequence removal process. 10% of them died and 65% are invalids. Military centers have currently recorded 2442 people affected by the Chernobyl accident, including nearly 2300 invalids of actinic disease.