Nuclear weapons can't coexist with humans, say survivors of atomic bombings

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan's atomic bomb survivors declared that nuclear weapons cannot coexist with humans, as they gathered in Hiroshima to discuss ways to eliminate nuclear damage.

Two anti-nuclear organizations held a global forum on Sunday and Monday and adopted a declaration demanding that no further nuclear damage be caused on Earth, as well as stating that nuclear weapons and humans cannot coexist, according to the Jiji Press.

This was the first time the forum had been held in 10 years.

The forum's declaration also demanded compensation and rights for nuclear victims, including access to accurate information and participation in policy decision-making processes.

During the forum, atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and South Korea discussed uranium mining, their personal experiences, bomb tests, and nuclear accidents at power plants.

The 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of the southern port city of Nagasaki during World War II was observed in August.

The US dropped the plutonium bomb, "Fat Man," on the port city of Nagasaki at 11.02 am local time (0202GMT) on August 9, 1945, three days after it dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima.

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed between 200,000 and 140,000 people by 1950. Japan formally surrendered on August 15, 1945, signaling the end of World War II.