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Ujelang Atbll is within the region of low level fallout. At least once ~- during the nuclear testing period, it is reported that the U.S. Navy
temporarily evacuated the people of Ujelang by taking the entire coxmmity
to sea during a test operation.
-.
Today approximately 500 ~c)ple make up the Ujelang-Enewetak community,
with another 40 or so Ujelangese living on Ebeye or Majuro.
.With the start of the cleanup and rehabilitationprogram of Enewetak
Atoll in 1976, a small revolving conmnua
ity of some 60 Ujelangese was
.:”permitted to live on Japtan Island in the southern part of Enewetak
Atoll. Most of the members of the Ujelang community have thus lived for
at least a’six month period on Japtan Island during the timespan of
1976-1980. In April 1980, the Japtan conmunity was expanded to 140
individuals. As of July 1, 1980, 265 Enewetakese had returned to the
three new communities. Most of the remaining ~pulation on Ujelang is
expected to return to Enewetak and Medren within the coming year.
Ujelang Atoll, however, will continue to be used as a source of fresh
food supply and will be in continual use for the next 8-10 years by the
Enewetak people, either by having an outpost community there or a revolving
community. Healfi care for the~ople of Enewetak, accordingly, mustbe
provided at Ujelang if a co~-ity
remains there as well as Enewetak.
The Department of Enezgy in the spring of 1980 carried out a “whole
body” count on the entire Ujelang group prior to the planned return to
the southern parts of Enewetak Atoll. No basic medical suney of the
Enewetak group has as yet been carried out.
(d) Other Atolls of the Northern Marshalls
The Government of the Marshall Islands has expressed considerable concern
that other atolls in the Northern Marshalls known to be in the areas of /{:
low level radiation fallout, should in reality be listed in the category
of “affected atolls”.
In early 1979, the Government of the Marshall Islands conducted a Su=ey
on the people of Likiep Atoll, and it contends that its survey demonstrates
that there is more than a normal incidence of thyroid disorders, throat
problems, and other medical abnormalities among the people of that
atoll.
The Government of the Marshalls has requested that the health of the
people of~kiep
and associated atolls be studied. The Depar=ent Of
Energy has agreed to provide a biochemical screening profile-of the
people of ~ep
Atoll, and of the people of one other atoll in the
Marshalls ~ be selected as a comparison population. Medical Staff
would be ificludedin the sunrey team. Negotiations between the Department
of the Interior, the Department of Energy, and the Government of the
Marshall Islands currently (s~er 1980) are underway to accmnplish the
carrying out of the screening profile of the poeple of LiJciepAtoll.
.