  The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded in 1986, with 70% of the fall-out landing in Belarus. About 25% of the region is considered uninhabitable. Over two million residents of Belarus have had their health affected by this catastrophe, including 800,000 children. In the early 1990s, 37,000 children needed treatment to overcome life-threatening effects of this disaster.
In August 1997, Children's Hospice International sent an interdisciplinary team to Minsk, Belarus at the request of the Belarussion Children's Onco-Hematological Center. A psychologist from this center, Anna Gorchakova, spent 6 weeks training at Children's Hospice International in 1996. After returning to Belarus, Ms. Gorchakova began the development of the first Belarussian Children's Hospice.
 CHI gathered an interdisciplinary team to travel to Belarus where they worked with local physicians, social workers, nurses, therapists, clergy, and specially trained volunteers. CHI provided training for children's hospice care to meet the needs of those children with life-threatening conditions and their families in the region. CHI and the Belarussian Hospice worked together toward creating an atmosphere in which the patient and family can live life as fully as possible.
 This humanitarian mission to Belarus received bipartisan support from the US Congress. "As a father of a cancer survivor, I know the pain Belarussian families are experiencing. While nothing can provide complete relief for the suffering terminally ill children and their families must endure, CHI is a worthy organization and its mission deserves widespread support," said Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA). Congressmen Merrill Cook (R-UT) and Jim Moran (D-VA) were influential in gathering items such as toys and other comfort items for the CHI team to bring with them.
United Airlines provided airfare for CHI's team to travel to Belarus. Additionally support was given by Eastman Kodak. With these generous donations and the invaluable technical assistance provided by CHI, the Belarussian Children's Hospice began and continues to serve children today.
 
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