PAYING FOR DISASTERS.

Because Russia faces so many natural and man-made disasters, Izvestiya reported May 31, the Russian state budget includes a special line item for coping with them. This year that budget line includes $500 million. The $6 million that Moscow has allocated for the Sakhalin earthquake cleanup came from this fund. Unfortunately, Izvestiya notes, not only is this appropriation too small for that tragedy; it is too small for all the tragedies Russia faces. Last year, the fund was exhausted by September–but the disasters continued in the last quarter as well.

Housing For Chernobyl Victims.