UN calls on US to do more on Marshall Islands nuclear fallout

The UN human rights body received a report on Thursday highlighting the need for additional US measures to remedy the nuclear legacy affecting the Marshall Islands, a former US trust territory in the Pacific.

The report, presented in Geneva, identified two key areas requiring urgent attention: enhanced healthcare services for affected populations and the release of classified documents related to the nuclear testing programme that took place during the Cold War era.

The Marshall Islands hosted extensive nuclear weapons testing by the United States between 1946 and 1958, resulting in widespread contamination and long-term health consequences for island residents. Many communities continue to face elevated rates of cancer, thyroid disease, and other radiation-related illnesses decades after testing ceased.

The UN findings come as concerns persist over the adequacy of current US compensation and medical support mechanisms established under the Compact of Free Association with the Marshall Islands. Advocates have long called for greater transparency regarding the full extent of environmental damage and health impacts from the testing programme.

The report represents renewed international scrutiny of Washington's obligations to address the humanitarian consequences of its nuclear activities in the Pacific region.