Chernobyl charity suffers largest loss in 21-year history

Chernobyl Children International, the charity that has helped more than 22,000 Ukrainian children affected by the nuclear disaster, has suffered its largest ever loss in its 21-year history.

Accounts show the Adi Roche-led charity last year incurred a €676,555 loss following a surplus of €627,867 in 2010 — a negative turnaround of €1.3m.

The deterioration comes after income fell 30%, from €3.62m to €2.53m in the 12 months to Jan 31.

A spokeswoman for the Cork-based charity said the charity expected to be loss-making again this year to the tune anticipating of about €400,000.

The charity’s cash has fallen from €2.848m to €2.178m.

An increase in distribution costs from €2.68m to €2.93m were also a factor behind the losses.

The charity was established in 1991 in response to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The spokeswoman said the deficit was down to a “drop in individual and legacy income due to the recession”.

In 2011, two anonymous donors gave €500,000 each to the charity, while a third donated €250,000.

None of these donations were repeated last year as donations overall fell by 40%, from €2.8m to €1.7m, with aid in kind increasing from €744,035 to €799,047.

Asked what measures the charity has taken in response to last year’s deficit, the spokeswoman said: “A reduction in programmes and consequent staff reduction.”

The average number of employees fell from 23 to 22 last year, with employment costs dropping from €456,929 to €419,614.

In spite of the losses, the charity’s work continues, with more than 500 children brought to Ireland for rest and recuperation this year, along with the completion of two community day care centres in Belarus, three homes of hope purchased and opened, and six child cardiac missions in Ukraine.

Yesterday, Ms Roche was leading one of the child cardiac missions in Ukraine and was unavailable for comment.