2006-08-20 11:55:35 · 7 answers · asked by ♥ 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I was in college studying history for my B.A. at the time it happened, and one of the things that struck us in academia was the relative quickness in which the U.S.S.R. told the rest of the world that it happened. We knew the same night. And they were uncharacteristically open about needing our help. So, I disagree with the people here who say that it took the Soviet Union too long to alert the world and ask for help, in my observation, they told us very quickly and did reach out for help. Especially to Pennsylvania, which had experienced the 7 Mile Island meltdown in the 1970s and had experience with this kind of thing (unfortunately). However, they told their own people very little of what was going on, and had workers and people living around there in great danger for too long a time.
2006-08-21 11:48:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not immediately, because at the time Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union was not forthcoming with information about the extent of the explosion. Once more information leaked out, other countries, including the US did offer assistance, but their help was initially turned down by the Soviet government. Dr. Robert Gale, from UCLA, did go there to help perform bone-marrow transplants very soon after the accident. He wrote a book about his experiences that I've listed in the sources. I believe additional foreign medical assistance was provided by numerous countries, the US included, but I don't have a specific source to back that up.
2006-08-20 19:36:32 · answer #2 · answered by jersey girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was mainly the Russians that handled that disaster as the people that were sent in were pretty much handed a death sentence due to the radiation. http://www.kiddofspeed.com/ Check out this web site for some very interesting pictures and commentary.
2006-08-20 19:27:06 · answer #3 · answered by Captleemo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The old Soviet Union government usually denied the existence of natural and manmade disasters, and declined help from outside the country if it was offered. They put nationalistic pride ahead of their own citizen's welfare.
2006-08-20 19:52:32 · answer #4 · answered by Mark V 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ukrainian reps visited the USA for financial, technical, medical etc., assistance from us, but, we promised and did not really give much!
2006-08-21 09:08:49 · answer #5 · answered by soubassakis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we tried but the Soviets told us it was under control and wouldn't even let us help
2006-08-20 19:15:20 · answer #6 · answered by ryan s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they woul dhave rec'd more help had the Ruskies bothered to tell anyone when it actually happened.
2006-08-20 19:18:02 · answer #7 · answered by conntom2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋