46.Inresponse totheappealmadebytheGovernments oftheByelorussian SovietSocialist Republic andtheUkrainian SovietSocialist Republic in March1990tohelplaunchaninternational reliefefforttocopewi"the after-effects ofthedisaster, UNDROcontacted theappropriate Uni~~dNations agencies, withaviewtoestablishing aconcerted response. Dntawere gathered onongoing andplannedactivities ofotherUnitedNations agencies. E/1990/97 page10 Further discussions wereheldwiththePermanent Representatives ofthe Byelorussian SSRandtheUkrainian SSRonthecontents andspecifications of theappeal. UNDROhasreceived fromtheGovernment oftheByelorussian SSRa moredetailed listoftheequipment andmedical supplies required. TheOffice standsreadytocollaborate inaninter-agency reliefeffortbyproviding its expertise andfacilities inneedsassessment, evaluating priority needsand informing theinternational community by,interaliar-launching anappeal. 47.Ontheeveofthefourthanniversary oftheaccident, theCo-ordinator calledupontheinternational community toextendmaximum support tothetwo SovietRepublics intheirefforts tocombattheconsequences ofthedisaster. Henotedthat,although theUnitedNations General Assembly hadproclaimed the1990sanInternational DecadeforNatural Disaster Reduction, nosuch globaleffortexisted tofighttechnological andindustrial disasters. Yet anaccident suchastheoneatChernobyl couldhavethemostserious, wide-ranging andlong-lasting consequences onsociety andtheenvironment on aninternational scale. Drawing fromthelessons ofChernobyl, andinline withitsmandate topromote mitigation measures fornatural aswellas man-made disasters, UNDROiscollaborating withtheUn.l.t·.ldNations agencies concerned inplanning andelaborating apreparedness strategy fornuclear and otherindustrial installations, notonlyintheimmediate vicinity ofthe plantsbutalsointhesurrounding regions thatmaybeatrisk.Theimmediate aimisapreparedness andprevention planning exercise aroundoneormoreof theotherstilloperational installations oftheChernobyl type.Thiswould include aninter-agency mission tosuchsites. UnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP) 48.FromthetimeoftheChernobyl accident, UNEPhasexpressed concern about thepossible environmental consequences. Ithas,therefore, beenanactive memberoftheInter-Agency Committee forResponse toNuclear Accidents, has expressed itsapproval inprinciple fortheproposed Chernobyl Centrefor International Research andhasoffered thegeographical information system expertise ofitsGlobalResource Information Databasetothoseconcerned with establishing asuitable international response andtracking mechanism, should asimilar nuclear accident occur. 49.UNEPhasalsocontinued toprovide administrative support tothe secretariat ofUNSCEAR. TheExecutive Director ofUNEPalsoprovides continuing adviceandguidance totheSecretary ofUNSCEAR onrelevant environmental concerns andissues. UNEP,through theGlobalEnvironment Monitoring System (GEMS), hasalsomadeavailable financial support to facilitate thepreparation ofthefirstUNSCEAR assessment ofthelong-term impactoftheChernobyl accident. 50.Asaconsequence oftheChernobyl accident, UNEP,inco-operation with WHO,hasbeenactiveindeveloping proposals foraGlobalEnvironment Radiation Monitoring Network (GERMON) tobeimplemented aspartofGEMS. Expertmeetings havebeenheldcUlminating inameeting oftheGERMON Scientific Advisory Committee inMoscow from28to30May1990.Thatmeeting decided thattheconcept ofGERMONwasnowsufficiently welladvanced for initial data-gathering tobegin,ifpossible inthefourthquarter of1990, through implementation ofthenetwork. Fortycountries haveactively participated inGERMONfromthestartanditisEmpected thatafurther 20countries wouldparticipate ifthe appropriat.~· technical assistance were madeavailable toenablethemtodosoeffectively.51.UNEP assessmen bylAEAa United Na 52.Whil looksfor expectati United Na 53.The theUnite accident contacts hediscus bytheac victims a willbep 54.The alsofore regarding forcedto wouldstr solutions
**Analysis**
The text appears to be related to the response to a major environmental disaster, specifically the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and the international efforts to mitigate its effects. It discusses the roles of various United Nations agencies, such as UNDRO, UNEP, and WHO, in providing humanitarian aid, assessing the environmental impact, and planning for future disasters.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Natural resources and environment