A village center at the site of the original village is
proposed in accordance with the wishes of the Bikini leaders.
This will consist of a school,

dispensary,

facilities including warehousing.

church,

and community

The Bikinians have expressed

a preference for living on their own lands, rather than in the
village,

the High Commissioner has reported.

Resettlement plans

reflect this preference and call for the construction of housing
units,
house.

including a house,

cistern,

cookhouse,

copra crib and bath

Thirty such units are planned for the first year with

additional housing units planned at the rate of six each year
through the end of the resettlement program.
Replanting will start immediately following the cleanup of
the main islands of Bikini and Enyu.

Since it takes from six to

ten years for a coconut tree to mature and become productive,
feeding program will be required for returned families.

a

The plan

calls for tapering off such feeding assistance as the family's
resources are improved.

A major feature of the program will be

the employment of Bikini people in the resettlement work.
The Bikini people were moved from their atoll in 1946 to
permit nuclear testing.

They were moved first to Rongerik, then

Kwajalein and, then, to Kili, a single island in the southern Marshall Islands chain.

Throughout their moves, they have retained

a strong desire to return to Bikini.

Nine of their leaders accom-

panied the High Commissioner to the atoll in August 1968,

their

first visit since they left the atoll more than 20 years ago.

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