H-Bomb Victims
p. 60 · Read in the full issue
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AS a result of the March, 1954, American hydrogen bomb tests in the Marshall Islands, 64 of the 200 residents of Rongelap and Uterik atolls received radiation doses which were described later as “not far below the amount which would be lethal to some among a group of humans.”
The people were resettled on other islands and up to June, 1955, the US Government had agreed to pay, or had paid, $1,707 dollars to Utirik claimants, and $5,163 to Rongelap claimants, mostly for personal effects which had to be left behind when evacuated.
On the face of it, it appeared that the Islanders must have had re markably poor legal advice in settling on the above terms. The Japanese fishermen did consider ably better than that—on the second try.
Late in November it was reported from New York that the popula tions of Eniwetok and Bikini, de ported to other islands to make way for the bomb tests, are to receive $450,000 in compensation. They suf fered no radiation effects. t The Diwali (Festival of the Lights) was held in Fiji according to Indian custom, in early No vember,