‘ Voluntary resettlements ’
have been hit by the sickness , and there are no reports of the miners suffering a similar fate during Soviet times .
‘ Voluntary resettlements ’
“ On this sleeping sickness , we don ’ t have the results of the studies in our hands yet ,” Asel Sadvokasova , Kalachi ’ s mayor , acknowledged . As soon as there are conclusive findings , residents will be informed , she said .
Meanwhile , “ we ’ re all in fear of falling asleep ,” villager Tatyana Pavlenko says . Authorities in the regions are now opting for a radical , and controversial , solution : moving the villagers out of Kalachi to prevent further exposure . In January , regional governor Sergey Kulagin said he hoped the relocation would be complete by May .
“ Some measures must be taken ,” the mayor , who has herself suffered a bout of the sickness , said . “ This is a good chance for the residents of our village to find a new home and a new job .”
Working with local administrations and employers , authorities have already resettled around 100 residents across the Akmola Region – a 56,500‐square‐mile administrative area of northern Kazakhstan . But there are 425 residents still living in the village .
It is a “ voluntary resettlement ” Sadvokasova insists – but some villagers are resistant .
“ I ’ m not going anywhere ,” says Kazachenko . “ Why should I go ? I ’ ve been here for 40 years . I ’ m going to die here .”
His wife Raisa , who nursed him through two bouts of sleeping sickness is also defiant : “ I ’ ve lived in this house for 20 years . I ’ ve lived on this street for 60 years ,” she said , between hauling water from a standpipe through the icy streets on a sledge . “ Now where will they send me ? What ’ s awaiting me there ?”