 The atoll's residents were evacuated in 1954 but returned after it was declared safe in 1957.They subsequently experienced a host of serious health issues, including birth defects, thyroid disorders and cancer, but the US government denied the link between radioactivity and the islanders' problems and refused to evacuate them again.In ten days, Sawyer led the "Rainbow Warrior"'s a dozen crew members to move 300 residents of Rongelap to Mejato Island, about away, as well as over 100 tons of livestock and building materials.