RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE
1946 continued
temporary. Therefore, they choose to
re-settle on nearby Rongerik Atoll, 125
miles east, although they recognize its
drawbacks: poor quality coconuts, unusable well water and many species of
fish which are edible on Bikini but are
poisonous at Rongerik.
JULY Bikini: Bikini magistrate Juda is
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.
DECEMBER Rongerik: The Bikinians' situ-
BIKINI ATOLL
‘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 produc-
Bobdrotul
tive coconut trees on Rongerik.
Orokan Poe
Agekan
ee
ZS Ung
JULY Rongerik: The situation on Rongerik
dat oko;-Enemen Chain
Be =O
Ereu
Eeudr&
BIKINI ATOLL, SITE OF 23
ANNOUNCED NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
<a
MARCH 7 Bikini: The Bikinians' first
relocation is accomplished with little
planning.
The people are moved swiftly
from Bikini to uninhabited Rongerik,
whose 17 islands barely contain onehalf square mile of dry land surround-
further deteriorates.
A medical officer,
after visiting Rongerik, reports the
Bikinians "visibly suffering from malnutrition."
AUGUST Rongerik: An investigatier board
eppointed by the U.S. administration to
look into the Bikinian'’s plight meets
with the people on Rengerik and reports:
insufficient food, a bankrupt store,
low suppiies of water and only one
brackish well on the island.
The
board's report concludes: "It would ap- _
pear that their departure from Ronge-
rik has been too long delaved."
compared to Bikini's 2.3 square miles of
SEPTEMBER Rongerik: Harold Ickes, a ferland and 299 square mile lagoon.
ing a lagoon of only 55 square miles,
MAY Rongerik:
Less than two months
after their arrival the Bikinians express anxiety over Rongerik's meager
resources, and make the first of many
requests to return home.
Enewetak: In preparation for the July
atomic tests at Bikini, the Enewetak
people are evacuated to Meck Island in
Kwajalein Atoll, and the Rongelap and
Wotho people are relocated to. Lae Atoll
for the duration of the Bikini tests.
Rongerik: The people of Rongelap Atoll,
just 25 miles from Rongerik, catch fish
and prepare food and transport it by
outrigger canoes to Rongerik to help
the Bikinians.
mer cabinet member under Presicent
Franklin Roosevelt, in a naticnaliy
syndicated newspaper column makes cerious charges ayainst the Naw adrninis-
tration for neglecting the Bikinfans on
Rongerik and arouses a storm of criticism.
"The Seabees built a model vil-
lage on Rongerik that anyone woulc
be proud to live 7a...The natives
are delighted, enthusiastic about
the atomic bomb, which has aiready
brought them prosperity and a new
promising future.”
U.S.Navy press Statement, April
1, 1946.
(continued on pape 9)