Japanese atomic bomb survivors visit Auschwitz
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
29.08.2013 16:12
Survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki toured the Auschwitz - Birkenau German Nazi death camp site, Wednesday, as part of a 'Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World'.
'Peace Boat' group tour Auschwitz: photo - PAP/Stanisław Rozpędzik.
The visit by nine surviving victims of the atomic bombs, known as "Hibakusha" in Japan, was organized by the Japanese 'Peace Boat' NGO.
Six witnesses of the bombing of Hiroshima and three from Nagasaki are currently on a tour of 20 countries to talk about their experiences.
"The government of Japan hopes that the visit will help deepen understanding of the tragic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and to strengthen the international community's will to put an end to them,” a statement on the Japanese Embassy web site says.
On 6 August 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, causing the deaths of up to 120,000 people. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 74,000. Both cities were destroyed. (pg)
source: PAP