RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE 1946 concinuea temporary. Therefore, they choose to re-settle on nearby Rongerik Atoll, 125 miles east, although they recognize its drawbacks: poor quality coconuts, un- usable well water and many species of fish which are edible on Sikini but are poisonous at Rongerik. flown to view the results of the first atomic test. Detonated over the lagoon, the bomb had caused little visible damage to the islands. When he reports this, the Bikinians' desire to return home intensifies. OECEMBER Rongerik: The Bikinians' situ- BIKINI ATOLL . JULY Bikini: Bikini magistrate Juda is = — 5 Cra Sy Zo “ ‘om ation on Rongerik worsens. Food shortages occur during late 1946 and early 1947, 1947 MAY Rongerik: A disastrous fire damages an estimated 30% of the productive coconut trees on Rongertk. Ovenan Pas oe a Agrota Enermen Chan JULY Rongertik: The situation on Rongerik ‘urther dereriorates. A medical officer after visiting Rongecik. reports the Sikinians "visibly suffering from malBIKINI ATOLL, SITE OF 23 ANNOUNCED NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS aie MARCH 7 Bikini: The Bikinians' first relocation is accomplished with little planning. The people are moved swiftly from Bikini to uninhabited Rongerik, whose 17 islends barely contain onehalf square tile of dry land surrounding a lagocn of only $5 square miles, compared to 3ikini's 2.3 square miles of iand and 299 square mile lagoon. MAY Rongerik: Less than two months after their arrival the 8ikinians ex- press anxiety over Rongerik's meager resources, and make the first of many requests to return home. Enewetak: In preparation for the July nutrition." . ~UGUET Rongerik: An investizet‘:- hoard :tpeinted by the U.S. administration to took into the Bikinian's plight neets with the people on Rengerin and reports: insufficient food, a bankrupt store, Low supplies of water and cnly cne trackish well on the island. >a Seare’s report concludes: "Tr sould aprear that their cepaurture from ronge4 rik has been too lonv delaved.' SEPTEMBER Rongerik: Harold Ickes, a for- mer cebinec member under Presicene rrankiin Roosevelt, in a naticnaliv syndicated newspaper columm mares sericus charges against the Naw acrinis- tration for neglecting the Bikintans on 'Rongerik and arouses a storm of eritic.sm. BbI1100S atomic tests at Bikini, the Enewetak people are evacuated to Meck Island in Kwajalein Atcll, and the Rongelap and Wotho people are relocated to Lae Atoli for the duration of the Rikini tests. Rongerik: The people of Rongelap Atoll, just <5 miles from Rongerik, catch fish and prepare food and transport it bv outrigger canoes to Rongerik to help the Bikinians. “The Seabees built a modei village on Rongerik that anyone woulc be proud to live ‘n...Th2 natives are delishted, enthusiastic about the atomic bomb, which has aiready brought them prospericy and 2 new cromising future.” U.S.Navu press statement, april i, 1946. (continued on page 9)