Two point one million dollars has so far been paid out to Christmas Island veterans and their families by the government.

Thirty seven veterans who survived the nuclear tests on Christmas Island in 1954 have received their compensation – totalling over $350,000.

Operation Grapple Administration Officer Vanavasa Tabaka says 181 cases which involve compensation for dependents have also been paid out – totalling over $1.7 million.

“We have compensated 225 veterans. Out of the 225 we have prioritized areas that we need to compensate on. Our priority ones are for those surviving veterans that are still alive and we have compensated 37 and for those that have passed on we have compensated the families about 181.”

Now, the operation team is finding difficulty in locating families of veterans who had no children.

Relatives of these veterans are urged to come forward and claim the compensation and the last round of public consultation regarding the compensation will be conducted in two weeks’ time and the left over funds that have yet to be claimed will go back to the state.