( CNN ) -- UEFA has decided not to make a charitable donation to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster as part of the social projects it has opted to support during Euro 2012 , which is being co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland . A botched reactor safety test at Chernobyl in Ukraine -- then part of the Soviet Union -- set off the worst nuclear accident in history , with the radiation effects of the 1986 explosion about 400 times more potent than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II , and nearly 14 times greater than the disaster last year at the Fukushima plant in Japan . `` There are no plans to make donations to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster , '' UEFA said in a statement given to CNN . `` However , children from Chernobyl disaster regions in Ukraine and Belarus have received an invitation , extended by UEFA President Michel Platini , to attend one of the Euro 2012 matches . There will be a total of 125 children attending the match in Kiev on June 19 between Sweden and France . '' The chairman of the Chernobyl Children 's Trust Simon Walsh described UEFA 's decision as paying 'lip-service ' to the victims of Chernobyl . `` This is a hugely significant tournament and a unique opportunity to highlight the ongoing consequences of the Chernobyl disaster , '' said Walsh . `` Hundreds of thousands of children in Belarus , Ukraine and Russia are still affected today . Ironically , charities from the 16 nations participating in the Euros are working in the affected regions , trying their best to mitigate the consequences of Chernobyl with very limited resources . `` This could have been a golden opportunity to raise both awareness and funds for the 'Children of Chernobyl ' while simultaneously giving much-needed credibility and kudos to UEFA and Michel Platini . '' More than 200,000 people were evacuated following the disaster , never to return . A 2005 report by `` The Chernobyl Forum '' ( the most comprehensive to date ) estimated that more than five million remain in what have been termed `` contaminated territories , '' and 250,000 live in `` highly contaminated territories . '' Figures released by UNICEF in 2010 showed that more than 20 % of adolescent children in Belarus , which neighbors Ukraine , suffered from disabilities and chronic illness . Belarus absorbed 70 % of Chernobyl 's fallout . `` Twenty-six years after the Chernobyl catastrophe , hundreds of villages and towns remain radioactively contaminated and millions of people , many of whom are children , live in these areas , '' said Walsh . `` These children and their families have had to adapt and 'forget ' about the radiation as they have no choice but to live where they are . Popular pastimes like collecting berries and mushrooms and walking in the forest are forbidden in contaminated areas but as time progresses the radiation signs are often ignored . '' Walsh added : `` The government is now systematically declassifying villages and towns as contaminated , '' added the Chernobyl Children 's Trust chairman . `` This is not based on any scientific evidence and entire towns and villages that may well still be radioactively contaminated are now being classified as 'clean ' and 'safe ' to live in . `` This is purely economical as families living in the 'zones ' are entitled to certain 'privileges ' -- a free holiday in a different part of the country for children , once a year and a meager allowance for the family . '' UEFA , which made a net profit of $ 312.5 million during Euro 2008 , is to make a contribution of $ 3.75 million to its RESPECT campaign -- RESPECT Diversity , RESPECT Fan Culture , RESPECT Inclusion and RESPECT your Health . The RESPECT Diversity project is being run by Football Against Racism in Europe ( FARE ) . Two FARE international monitors will attend each match during Euro 2012 to identify racist behavior and far-right banners . Former England defender Sol Campbell has warned fans not to travel to Poland or Ukraine following a BBC documentary accusing football fans from the two countries of racism and also questioned why both nations were awarded the tournament in the first place . UEFA says the profits for the 2008 tournament were used to finance all its youth and women 's competitions until 2012 , its complete refereeing and coaching programs and some of its administrative costs .
The 1986 nuclear disaster was the worst nuclear disaster in history . ` ` There are no plans to make donations to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster , '' says UEFA . Chairman of the Chernobyl Children 's Trust describes UEFA as paying ' lip - service ' to the victims . UEFA made a net profit of $ 312.5 million .