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Russian Authorities to Send Over 13,000 Children on Vacation to Oil Spill Zone in Black Sea
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![Maryna_kulakova]( "Maryna Kulakova")
-924c3c302c27387e19f6c44aaeb98745.png "Maryna Kulakova")
Regional authorities and branches of Russia's Pension Fund will allocate approximately $7.5 million (600 million rubles) to purchase vacation packages for 13,500 children to Anapa, which was hit hardest by the oil spill after the sinking of two tankers in December last year, according to an analysis of government procurement data by Agentstvo.
On December 15, a severe storm in the Kerch Strait led to a collision between two Russian oil tankers, the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, spilling approximately 4,000 tons of fuel oil into the Black Sea.
Contracts for vacation packages to Anapa have already been signed by authorities in at least nine regions: Moscow, Moscow, Tula, Ryazan, Volgograd, Vladimir regions, as well as North Ossetia, Tatarstan, and Krasnodar region. Most of the selected vacation spots are Anapa’s sanatoriums "Anapa," "Globus," and "Yantar" (within 500 meters of the shore), along with the "Vityazevo" recreation center in the village of Vityazevo (about 2 km from the shore).
Tatarstan authorities will send the most children to Anapa — 3,700 children (at a cost of $2.1 million / 175 million rubles). Ryazan region will spend $1.5 million (122 million rubles) to send 3,200 children to Anapa. At least 2,300 children from Tula region will also travel to the oil spill zone ($1.6 million / 126 million rubles).
The vacation packages are for children in difficult life situations, orphans, social welfare recipients, as well as talented and socially active children. At least 2,000 children from 23 regions traveling to Anapa have disabilities or suffer from various health conditions, including respiratory illnesses.
A few regions sending children to Krasnodar region have included restrictions in their procurement documents, ensuring that no vacation packages are offered in areas affected by the oil spill.
The consequences of the oil spill in the Black Sea are still not fully addressed. On April 4, authorities in Krasnodar region reported new oil product discharges on the Black Sea coast in Anapa. Local Telegram channels have published photos and videos of large oil slicks on the city’s beaches. Environmentalists are advising against visiting beaches affected by the oil spill this year.
