Kazakhstan. Semipalatinsk. Regional Children Clinical Hospital. Intensive Unit. Madi Berikhamov is 3 and half years old. He was operated because he suffers from an urology disease. The boy is tied with ropes on the bed in order to avoid any movements and wounds. The child was born near the Semipalatinsk Polygon ( called today National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan). Madi Berikhamov is a third generation victim of the 456 atomic testing - 116 atmospheric, 340 underground - from 1949 to 1989. The regions high frequency of urology diseases is primarily due to fallout from nearby nuclear test sites. Madi Berikhamov shows the human and environmental effects of nuclear radiation, genetic contamination and pollution from atomic tests programs of the former Soviet Union. Semey is the Kazakh name for Semipalatinsk and is located in the Eastern Kazakhstan Province. © 2008 Didier Ruef .