Belarusian Casualties: What Percentage Of The Population Perished?

Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe, has experienced significant loss of life in its history. During World War II, over a quarter of its population, or 2,290,000 people, perished in the conflict, making it the country with the highest proportional loss during the war. More recently, the country has faced a migrant crisis, with people dying of exhaustion and hypothermia while attempting to cross the border into Poland. Additionally, Belarus was impacted by the Chernobyl accident in 1986, which exposed a significant portion of its population to radiation, potentially affecting their health.

25% of Belarus' population died during WWII

During World War II, Belarus lost about a quarter of its population, which was the highest percentage of any country involved in the war. This amounted to 2,290,000 people, including 500,000 to 550,000 Jews who were killed as part of the Holocaust. The country's total population before the war was around 10.2 million, 65.5% of whom lived in urban areas.

The German occupation of Byelorussia lasted from June 1941 until August 1944. During this time, the Nazis established more than 250 ghettos in Belarusian cities, towns, and villages to confine the Jewish population. The largest of these was the Minsk ghetto, which held 100,000 prisoners. The Nazis also deported 380,000 people for slave labour and intended to exterminate, expel, or enslave the ethnically Slavic Byelorussian population as part of their ethnic cleansing operation, Generalplan Ost.

The German invasion resulted in the destruction of over 9,200 villages and settlements, and 682,000 buildings, with some settlements burned multiple times. Major towns like Minsk and Vitebsk lost over 80% of their buildings and infrastructure. The country's intellectual elite was also decimated, with Belarus losing nearly a quarter of its pre-war population, including its leading thinkers and artists.

The Soviet partisan movement played a crucial role in resisting the German occupation. They hid in the woods and swamps, attacking German supply lines and disrupting communications. One of their most successful actions was the Asipovichy diversion of 30 July 1943, in which four German trains carrying supplies and Tiger tanks were destroyed.

The Chernobyl accident exposed 1/5 of Belarusians to radiation

Belarus has suffered a number of devastating events in its history, from the Chernobyl accident to the Second World War.

The Chernobyl accident, which occurred in 1986, exposed one-fifth of Belarusians to radiation. This amounts to around 2 million people, based on the country's population of 10.2 million at the time. The accident was the largest in the history of nuclear power and had far-reaching environmental consequences. It is believed to have had a significant impact on the health of those exposed.

The country also suffered greatly during World War II, losing over a quarter of its population, approximately 2,290,000 people. This was the highest percentage loss of any country during the war.

In addition to these tragedies, Belarus has also faced other challenges in recent years, including political repression under the authoritarian rule of Alexander Lukashenko and the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.

The Chernobyl accident and its aftermath continue to shape the country's present and future, with ongoing efforts to address the health and environmental impacts of the disaster.

The accident occurred at the Chernobyl Power Plant, where about 4 tonnes of nuclear fuel was released into the environment, including dangerous radionuclides such as Iodine-131, Caesium-137, and Plutonium. The radiation exposure is believed to have caused a range of health issues, including an increase in cancer cases.

The Belarusian government has implemented various measures to address the impact of the accident, including the establishment of cancer registries and specialised hospitals. International organisations have also provided support, with the European Commission holding a conference in 1996 to discuss the radiological consequences of the disaster.

The effects of the Chernobyl accident continue to be studied and understood even decades later, with ongoing research and monitoring of the affected areas. The disaster serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of nuclear power plant accidents and the importance of nuclear safety.

Belarus has the highest cancer registration in Europe

Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe, suffered the worst devastation of any country during World War II in terms of the percentage of its population lost. Over a quarter of its population, 2,290,000 people, perished during the conflict.

The country has been registering cancer cases since 1953. However, due to the small number of cancer hospitals, data collection was incomplete in the 1950s and 1960s. The first complete statistical data was obtained in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The cancer registry in Belarus, which began in 1973, collects information on new cancer cases, living cancer patients, and deceased cancer patients.

The Chernobyl accident in 1986 exposed one-fifth of the Belarusian population to radiation, which is thought to have had serious health consequences. The accident resulted in the release of substantial amounts of radioactive materials, including iodine, caesium, strontium, and plutonium, over western regions of the country. The Belarussian Cancer Registry has shown dramatic increases in thyroid cancer incidence rates, particularly among children, since the disaster. Between 1970 and 2001, thyroid cancer incidence rates increased from 0.4 per 100,000 to 3.5 per 100,000 among males (+775%) and from 0.8 per 100,000 to 16.2 per 100,000 among females (+1925%). The greatest increases were observed in the "higher exposure" areas of Gomel and Mogilev, which were closest to the Chernobyl power plant.

The high prevalence of pre-existing iodine deficiency in the country, in combination with the radiation exposure, is thought to have contributed to the increased cancer incidence. The release of iodine radioisotopes likely represented a clear exposure pathway, as iodine deficiency results in thyroid cell hyperplasia and increased uptake of radioiodine. The combination of radiation exposure and iodine deficiency has been reported to increase the risk of thyroid cancer by twofold among children and adolescents.

The death penalty still exists in Belarus

Belarus suffered the worst devastation of any country during World War II in terms of the percentage of its population killed. Over a quarter of its population, 2,290,000 people, perished during the conflict.

Today, Belarus is the only country in Europe that continues to carry out the death penalty. Known as the "Exceptional Measure of Punishment", it has been part of the country's legal system since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The current national constitution prescribes this punishment for "grave crimes". The death penalty can be imposed for crimes against the state or individuals, and a few non-violent crimes are also punishable by death. Executions are carried out by a single shot to the back of the head.

The Belarusian government has faced criticism from international organisations, such as the United Nations, for its methods of carrying out capital punishment. This practice has also prevented the country from joining the Council of Europe. Despite this, public opinion in Belarus largely supports the death penalty. In a 1996 referendum, 80.44% of Belarusians voted against abolishing capital punishment.

In recent years, there have been some moves towards reducing the use of the death penalty in Belarus. For example, since 1994, women have been ineligible for capital punishment, and individuals under 18 or over 65 at the time of sentencing are exempt. Additionally, the number of offences eligible for the death penalty has been reduced over time. However, in 2023, President Alexander Lukashenko signed a bill that introduced the death penalty for state officials and military personnel convicted of high treason. This bill also included provisions for punishing "propaganda of terrorism, discrediting the armed forces, and breaching state secrets".

Belarus has a high rate of human trafficking

Belarus suffered the worst devastation of any country during World War II in terms of the percentage of its population killed. Over a quarter of its population, 2,290,000 people, died during the conflict.

The Government of Belarus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but has been making significant efforts to do so. The government's response to trafficking is difficult to gauge due to the closed nature of the government, sparse independent reporting, and fear of government retaliation for criticism. The government has sustained law enforcement efforts, and Belarusian law prohibits trafficking in persons for both sexual exploitation and labor exploitation under Article 181 of its criminal code. The government reported 219 human trafficking investigations in 2009, with authorities prosecuting 61 cases and convicting 15 trafficking offenders under Article 181 that year.

The government has demonstrated some progress in protecting victims of trafficking, but there has been a decrease in the number of victims identified in recent years. The government has also failed to provide funding for specialized victim assistance programs. Victims can seek state medical assistance and other services free of charge, but most victims decline assistance from government facilities, instead opting for support from NGOs. The government has also demonstrated modest progress in trafficking prevention activities, but citizens, the media, and NGOs in Belarus are often subjected to government intimidation and strict control, which limits open discussion about the trafficking situation in the country.

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