Ujelang Atoll is within the region of low level fallout. At Idast once
during the nuclear testing period, it is reported that the 0.5] Navy
temporarily evacuated the seoole of Ujelang by taking the entime community
ts sea during a test operation.
Today approximately S00 people make up the Ujelang-Znewetak community,
with another 40 or so Ujelangese living on Ebeye or Majuro.
With the start of the cleanup and rehabilitation program of Enq@wetak
Atoll in 1976, a small revolving community of some 60 Ujelangede
was
permitted to live on Japtan island in che southern part of Enedetak
Atoll. Most of the members of the Ujelang community have thus[lived for
at least a six month cericd on Japtan Island during the tinessdn
of
1976-19680.
In April 19980, the Japtan community was expanded tq 140
we ee
eee
A
individuals, As of July 1, 1980, 265 Enewetakese had returned[to the
three new comminities. Most of the remaining population on Cjdlang is
expected to return to Enewetak and Medren within the coming year.
Ujelang Atoll, however, will continue to be used as a source qf fresh
food supply and will Se in continual use for the next S10 yeags by the
Fnewetak people, aitner by having an ocutpost commmity there of a revolving
community. Health care for the pecple of Znewetak, accordingly, must Se
provided at Ujelang if a community remains there as well as Engwetak.
The Department of Energy in the spring of 1980 carried cut a
ole
bedy” count on the entire Ujelang group srior ts che planned rgturn to
the southern parts of Enewetak Atoll. No dSasic medical surveylof the
Enewetak group has as yet been carried out.
(€4)
Other Atolls of the Northern Marshalis
The Government of the Marshall [Islands has expressed considerable concern
that other atolls in che Northern Marshalls known to be in thelareas of
—
low level radiation fallout, should in reality be listed in thk category
of "affected atolis".
In early 1979, the Govermment of the Marshall Islands on the Brsis of
results of interviews, questionnaires, and examinations of the] pecple of
Likiep Atoll came to the conclusion that there is more than a formal
Jer
of
thyroid disorders,
throat problems,
and other
med—cal
abnormalis; es among the seople of that atoli.
The Goverment of the Marshalls has requested that the health Bf the
people of Likiep and associated atolls be studied. The Sesartment of
nRercy
has
acreed
te
provide a biochemical screening
people of Likiep Atoll,
profile af
and of the seople of one other atoll
Marshalls to be selected as a comparison
ation.
the
im the
Medical Btafs
would be included in the suxsvey team. Negotiations Setween the Department
of the Interior, the Deparment of Energy, and <he Government Bf the
Marshall Islands currently (summer 1980) are underway ts accomplish “he
carrying out of the screening profile of the poeple of Lixien Atoll.