The Republic of Palau
The Republic of Palau is an island nation in the western Pacific, made up of 340 islands across 16 states and home to an estimated 17,000 people. The capital, Ngerulmud, was established in 2006 on the island of Babeldaob, the largest of Palau’s islands. With a complex history of Spanish, German, Japanese, and American administrations, Palau became fully independent in 1994under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
Palau’s strategic location drew it into the conflicts of World War II, where it served as a base for Japan’s operations in the Pacific. This led to intense battles, including the Battles of Peleliu and Angaur in 1944, which were key to the United States’ Pacific campaign. Nearly 80 years after the war’s end, Palau continues to face the legacy of that conflict, with explosive remnants of war (ERW) still scattered on land and in the surrounding seas. The intense battles of 1944 left behind extensive amounts of Unexploded and Abandoned Ordnance (UXO/AXO) contamination throughout all 16 states of Palau. This includes projectiles, mortars, rockets, anti-aircraft ammunition, grenades, aircraft bombs, sea mines, beach mines, and torpedoes. These ERWs not only pose a daily risk to the lives of Palau’s residents but hindering economic growth and community safety. NPA helps strengthen the capacity of national authorities to manage Mine Action activities effectively, supporting them in coordinating and overseeing all tasks through a centralized national database.
Norwegian People's Aid in Palau
The NPA programme in Palau started 1st of April 2015; after a steady period of mobilisation, planning and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the project commenced in June 2016. The initial task was to map the contamination across the country through Non-Technical Survey (NTS) methods, which identified 210 Suspected Hazardous Areas (SHA’s) and Confirmed hazardous Areas (CHAs).
NPA applies an evidence-based method for releasing land from the suspicion of or known contamination known as land release. NPA applies Non-Technical Survey, Technical Survey and clearance activities as part of its land release process
Working in partnership with the National Safety Office, NPA has safely removed and destroyed over 20,000 items of UXO/AXO. Working with the Ministry of Education NPA has developed an Explosive Ordnance Risk Education curricula and is delivering across all schools in the country.
In 2024, NPA, in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Safety, successfully disposed of 193 confiscated weapons as part of the Weapons and Ammunition Management Project. This achievement involved the establishment of a temporary weapon-cutting facility, procurement of specialized cutting equipment, development of a streamlined disposal process, and systematic recording and cutting of all confiscated weapons. Additionally, two armouries were upgraded to enhance overall storage and security, meeting all project objectives as planned.
- The population of Palau is around 17,000 and reducing, spread across several islands, with Koror as the most populous area and its commercial center.
- Palau has received support from organizations and nations (such as the U.S., Japan, and Australia) to conduct UXO surveys, risk education, and clearance operations.
- UXO contamination affects tourism and environmental conservation in Palau, as UXO may be found historically and ecologically significant areas.
- Palau has declared itself free from landmine and cluster munitions contamination in 2019 and as such has not been included in reports by the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, since then.
