A conference entitled “The Famine of 1946–1947 — Historical Research and Memorial Testimonies” was held in Bălți at the NordTec Hall of Alecu Russo State University.
The event brought together researchers, representatives of public institutions and members of civil society concerned with preserving the memory of one of the most tragic chapters in the history of Bessarabia.
Opening the conference, Alexandru Postică, president of the Association of Former Deportees and Political Prisoners of Moldova, stressed the need to come to terms with the past and to transmit historical truth to younger generations.
For her part, university rector Natalia Gașițoi underscored the importance of such educational initiatives, noting that many young people remain unfamiliar with the realities of the famine caused under the Soviet regime.
Bishop Antonie of Bălți shared a personal testimony about the suffering his family endured during the famine years.
The event was organised by the Association of Former Deportees and Political Prisoners of Moldova in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, Alecu Russo State University, the National Museum of History of Moldova, and the Diocese of Bălți.
Remembering the Famine of 1946–1947
In the Republic of Moldova, the third Saturday of April is dedicated to commemorating the victims of the 1946–1947 famine, a tragedy in which more than 200,000 people perished.
Historians at the conference explained that the crisis was not caused solely by drought, but was aggravated by Soviet policies that used food shortages to control the population.
In only a few months, more than 123,000 people died — approximately five per cent of the population of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic — making the region the hardest hit in the Soviet Union.
Throughout April, commemorative events, including exhibitions, screenings, and educational programmes, are organised to preserve the memory of the tragedy.
Photo: Facebook / Diocese of Bălți
