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History Overview |
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In 1954, the people of Rongelap Atoll became unwilling partners in
the Nuclear history archives. Winds carrying radioactive
fallout from the first hydrogen bomb test (codename Bravo) drifted
over the island dropping inches of ash on the islanders.
Within 3 days, and too late to help many, the residents were
relocated to Kwajalein for medical treatment and then moved to Ejit
Island on Majuro Atoll. |
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In February of 1957, families were allowed to return to Rongelap
where they stayed until a 2nd evacuation of the islanders in 1985.
They resettled on Mejatto Island on the Kwajalein Atoll waiting for
the time when they could safely return to their homeland. |
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| In September 1996,
the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., signed a
45-million dollar resettlement agreement to insure the safe return
home. Interior secretary Bruce Babbitt was joined by the Major
of Rongelap, James Matayoshi, Marshall Islands Ambassador to the
United States, Banny de Brum, United States Ambassador to the
Marshall Islands, Joan Plaisted, and members of the Rongelap
government Council. |
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"Congress declared
its intention to assist in resettlement ten years ago," said
Babbitt. "But when we took office in 1993, we found Rongelap's
future in the hands of scientists, lawyers, and government
officials, who, while well intentioned, were unable to craft a solution.
Today we are replacing the people of Rongelap's sense of neglect,
with one of commitment." |
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