steel room which had been stored there and also
the medical equipment and supplies. The medical
team was berthed and fed aboard theship for the
expedition. The ship was beached at Rongelap
and Utirik for easy accessibility to the villages.
Attitudes of Rongelap People
Whenthe team arrived at Rongelap, the mag-
istrate of the village indicated that there was some
confusion and uncertainty in the minds of some of
the people as to the necessity and significance of
repeated medical examinations. He thoughtit
radioactivity. After much discussion, it seemed
that the people were satisfied with answers to the
questions, and preparations for the examinations
proceeded. Thereafter complete cooperation and
the usualfriendly relations prevailed throughout
the stay on theisland.
During the examinations a United Nations team
visited Rongelap. A meeting with the people was
|
USS Duval County. The team met at Eniwetok
where the ship had putin to onload the 21-ton
sumption caretully explained through the interpreter. To correct a misconception that several!
cases of fish poisoning during the past year had
been due to eating radioactive fish, it was explained that fish poisoning had been going on in
these islands for years and was not connected with
held in the church (Figure 5), and many aspects of
the Rongelap situation were discussed. The report
wise to call a meeting of the village people in the
council house so that they could ask questions to
help clarify the situation. For the past 5 years during which the annual examinations have been going on there had been no problem in maintaining
of the UN group was favorable toward the special
lapese were always cordial and friendly. It was
recognized that there was slightly increasing resistance to blood sampling procedures. Also there
would be necessary in order to insure continued
good health. They were also advised to try to improve their orai hygiene and observe sanitary rules
excellent rapport with the people, and, indeed, the
relations of the team members with the Ronge-
was some discontent that, because of the high Sr’
content, they were forbidden to eat coconut crabs,
which they consider a delicacy (Figure 4). Since
the return of the people to Rongeiap, copra pro-
duction had not increased to the extent that the
medical assistance being rendered the people.
Upon completion of the 1959 survey, a meeting
was held for the people, and they were advised
that they were found to be generally in good
health with no serious effects of their radiation exposure apparent, but that continued examinations
to control the flies on the island.
Before the team left the island, a party was held
for the Rongelapese. The Navy kindly furnished
a meal, and small gifts were exchanged as tokens
of appreciation of mutal cooperation.
Trust Territory officials had hoped. Consequently,
since copra production ts the prime source of income, there was some concern over the slowness
with which the people were getting back on their
feet economically. It had become neceasary to extend food subsistence beyond the timeoriginally
Figure 4. Coconut crab (robber crab, Birgus faire), considered a delicacy by the Marshallese. (Photo courtesy
American Museum of Naturai History, New York, N.Y.)
pianned. Fishing was not being carried on as
actively as wt should have been.
Ac the village meeting the main questions centered around the necessity for the continued medical] examinations in view of statements on the part
of the medical team in the past that the people
were generally in good health. [t was difficult to
explain to them that, though they appeared to be
iy wood health and to have recovered from the
acute cHects of radiation, very bitte was known
about the possible late etleets of radiauon, and
BEST AVAILABLE COPY
ye
.
The Navy kindly furnished a ship, the LST
anse. The coconut crab problem was brought up
again, and the reasons for prohibiting their con-
su Ete
Majuro were also examined.
continued examinations were essential in order to
detect and treat any untoward effects, should they
i
15 children who are part of the control series for
the growth and development studies. Several
Rongelap people of the exposed group and the
comparison population group who were living in