“On April 26, 1986, a botched test at the Chernobyl nuclear plant sent clouds of smouldering nuclear material across large swathes of Europe, forced over 50,000 people to evacuate and poisoned unknown numbers of workers involved in its clean-up. The surrounding zone, which at 2,600 square kilometers is roughly the size of Luxembourg, remains largely uninhabitable and closed to unsanctioned visitors. A concrete sarcophagus was hastily built over the site of the stricken reactor to contain the worst of the radiation, but a more permanent solution has been in the works since late 2010. Easily visible from kilometres away, the 30,000 tonne “New Safe Confinement” arch will be pulled slowly over the site later this year to create a steel-clad casement to block radiation and allow the remains of the reactor to be dismantled safely. The upcoming 30th anniversary of the disaster has shone a new light on the long-term human impact of the worst nuclear meltdown in history. The official short-term death toll from the accident was 31 but many more people died of radiation-related illnesses such as cancer. The total death toll and long-term health effects remain a subject of intense debate. This week, Ukrainians who were involved in the cleanup of Chernobyl – the so-called “liquidators” – protested in central Kiev to demand the government acknowledge their sacrifice with improved social benefits. “Thirty years ago, when we were young, we were saving the whole earth from a nuclear explosion. And now no one needs us. Absolutely no one”, said one of the protesters, former liquidator Lidia Kerentseva”. – Gleb Garanich and Alessandra Prentice via Reuters



A general view shows the construction of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





Journalists are seen near a dry spent nuclear fuel storage (ISF-2), which is under construction, at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A bus driver smiles near a sarcophagus covering the damaged fourth reactor is seen at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view is seen of the dry spent nuclear fuel storage (ISF-2) under construction at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A general view shows the construction of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





Workers are seen near the dry spent nuclear fuel storage (ISF-2) under construction at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





Employees work at construction of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





An interior view of a flat is seen in the abandoned city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





Employees of Chernobyl nuclear power plant wait for a bus after their work at a nuclear power plant, Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





Workers are seen near a special railway platform for transportation dry spent nuclear fuel near storage (ISF-2) at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A containment shelter for the damaged fourth reactor (L) and the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure (R) at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are seen from Ukraine's abandoned town of Pripyat, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





Employees work at construction of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, Ukraine, April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





Journalists ride in a bus near a sarcophagus covering the damaged fourth reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A general view shows a containment shelter for the damaged fourth reactor (L) and the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure (R) at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine April 22, 2016. Picture taken through a bus window. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)





A view of the abandoned city of Pripyat is seen near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine April 22, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)