The government is marking one of the most tragic periods in the country’s history – the 1946-1947 famine caused by the Soviet regime. Tens of thousands died of starvation and hundreds of thousands were scarred for life after the famine, IPN reports.
The spokesman of the executive, Daniel Voda, said that this tragedy cannot be forgotten and that it is the duty of state institutions to keep the collective memory alive: “If you don’t know your history, you cannot build your future, we cannot build a strong future without facing the truth about the past”.
In order to bring this history lesson closer to the public, a commemorative exhibition has been inaugurated in front of the Government, also available on the website of the National Archives Agency. The exhibition is an invitation for reflection and documentation open to the general public.
Starting 29 April, a week dedicated to the commemoration of famine victims will be organized in all schools and universities. And museums and cultural institutions will hold public readings, exhibitions and discussions with historians and writers. Such events will take place not only in the capital, but also in various other localities – in Edinet, Falesti, Ivancea, as well as in the Gagauz Gagauzia.
The Government communicator emphasized that the destiny of those who died or survived the famine with dignity is also our story. “Memory does not die, history cannot be erased”, said Daniel Voda, urging local authorities to join the commemoration events.
The 1946-47 famine in the former Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova was one of the worst humanitarian crises in the region’s history and was caused by a combination of factors. Among them were the ravages of war, severe drought and Soviet food collection policies, exacerbating food shortages and leaving the population without relief.
