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AFP: US refuses Marshalls bid to use aid for nuclear victims

US refuses Marshalls bid to use aid for nuclear victims

 MAJURO (AFP) 12 Dec 08 — The US has refused a request by the Marshall Islands to use grant money to compensate victims of the American nuclear weapons testing programme in the western Pacific atoll nation, officials said.The US tested 67 nuclear weapons at Bikini and Enewetak atolls from 1946 to 1958 and a Nuclear Claims Tribunal was set up by the two governments to compensate those displaced or suffering health problems due to the tests.But the 150 million dollars the United States provided for paying settlements ran out three years ago and the US State Department has said there is no obligation to pay more.More than 22 million dollars remains unpaid for personal injury awards and about two billion dollars is outstanding for land damage awards made by the tribunal.

AFP: US refuses Marshalls bid to use aid for nuclear victims

December 13, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment