Remembering Hiroshima: A painful lesson the world must not forget

The Pearl Harbour attack united American citizens like never before. Young men volunteered to fight, factories increased production, and the entire nation mobilised for war. Some may recall the fictional Rosie the Riveter flexing her muscles and with the words "We can do it". As a result, many females started working in factories making munitions. The US would go on to play a decisive role in defeating the Axis powers.

- BY SUNIL G WIJESINHA

On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., a single bomb dropped by a US aircraft changed the world forever. The city of Hiroshima in Japan was instantly turned into a fiery wasteland when the atomic bomb—nicknamed "Little Boy"—exploded in the sky above. It was the first time a nuclear weapon was used in war. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Together, these bombings brought World War II to a close, but at a terrible human cost.

The bomb that hit Hiroshima released energy equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT. It killed approximately 140,000 people by the end of 1945. Some died instantly. Many others suffered for days and weeks with severe burns, internal injuries, and radiation sickness.

Visiting Hiroshima in the year 2000 with my son, and visiting the museum, it was horrifying to see the models of burning human beings and the melting of their skins. The only remnant of the bomb was one lone bombed building; the A-bomb dome or Genbaku dome in Japanese. The Memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima attracts many Japanese and foreign tourists today.

In the years that followed, the tragedy deepened. Radiation exposure led to a sharp rise in cancer and other health problems. By 1950, the number of deaths due to the bomb had risen to 200,000. Survivors faced long-term effects. Many were disabled for life.

One of the most painful legacies of the bombing was leukaemia, a form of blood cancer. Studies show that from 1950 to 2000, over 10,000 survivors developed cancer, with leukaemia rates 2 to 3 times higher than average, especially among children who were exposed. For many survivors, the pain didn't end with physical scars. They also faced social rejection, mental trauma, and the loss of family and friends.

The Pearl Harbour attack provoked the US