In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located in Ukraine, exploded as a result of mistakes made be operators of the plant. In total 30 workers died within a few weeks of the accident because of radiation.

The disaster was caused by the reactor test they were performing not going according to plan. The reactor had an emergency shut down that should've caused a chain reaction which failed.

350,000 people evacuated the area surrounding the plant. The UN believes that in all, 9,000 or more people will die from this disaster.

Although Chernobyl is inhabitable, about 100 people still live there. They returned to Chernobyl weeks after the evacuation from the disaster because of their connection to their homeland, and they were raised there.

Many of the remainders have died since the evacuation, but there's evidence that proves they are outliving the people who had left Chernobyl after the disaster. Many of the relocated people suffered from high amounts of trauma and it's believed that happiness kept the people who remained in Chernobyl living longer.

Children under one years old were affected the most by the disaster because of all the sicknesses they were exposed to. Children under one years old had a 2.2% higher risk of getting thyroid disease than children one year and older.

The country Belarus was greatly affected by the Chernobyl disaster because around 70% of the radiation from Chernobyl fell onto Belarus. This increased many cancers, disorders of the nervous system, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and disorders of bone, muscle, and connective tissue in children.

1.7 million people in Belarus currently live in poverty. An organization called Chernobyl Children International was founded to help children and end poverty of affected countries like Belarus.