MARSHALL GROUP ISLANDERS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27679, 8 June 1955, Page 13

MARSHALL GROUP ISLANDERS

Compensation For A-Bomb Damage

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 6. Marshall Islanders who were exposed to a nuclear fall-out in the rhermo-nuclear tests in the Pacific in March, 1954. have been paid 6869 dollars and 80 cents (about £2472) in compensation for property claims, the United States officially informed the United Nations today. The islanders, all of whom have recovered from any radiation effects, did not submit any personal injury claims. Two atolls in the Marshall Group— Rongelap and Uterik—were affected by the explosions, and the entire population, numbering 82 Rongela: se and 154 Uterikese, were evacuated. The Uterikese were subsequently returned to their atoll and, according to the United States report, “have entirely reesumed their former pattern of life and show no latent radiation effects whatever.”

The ill-effects suffered by the Rongelap population were entirely cleared up within five months, the report said, but they were remaining on Kwajalein until their home atoll was declared safe for permanent occupancy.