Japan’s GGP Grant to Palau Red Cross Society

           On July 22, 2020, Ambassador KARASAWA Akira from the Embassy of Japan formally handed over disaster management equipment to Palau Red Cross Society. The handover ceremony for “The Project for Enhancing Community Resilience in Palau” was held at NEMO Office in Airai, attended by Chairman of the Palau Red Cross Society (PRCS), Santy Asanuma, PRCS Vice Chairman Waymine Towei and other related personnel from the PRCS.
 
         Through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, PRCS was granted the AEDs, hand-held radios, a satellite telephone, a 4WD pick-up truck and materials for storage repair in the total cost of $70, 249 to improve local resilience to natural disasters as well as to provide vulnerable populations with appropriate trainings and services.
 
          From the experience of two typhoons that hit Palau in 2012 and 2013, people are now aware of the importance of natural disaster prevention. PRCS has also identified the need to build local capacity at the state level to provide outreach educational programs about the disaster prevention including First Aid/CPR training to local communities in Palau. However, due to its lack of proper equipment, PRCS cannot fully commit to the community outreach activities and the first response during and after disaster.
 
          PRCS has established Red Cross Disaster Action Teams (RDATs) who would utilize the granted equipment to undertake and manage the basic requirements of response in times of disaster or emergency within their local communities in all of the 16 states. Some sets of equipment are already being used properly for local communities and are expected to benefit people of Palau in years to come.
 
          At the ceremony, Ambassador Karasawa stated that he was delighted to know some sets of equipment are already being effectively used for local communities, especially for returning residents and others during their quarantine period under COVID-19 pandemic from last May.
 
          The Government of Japan launched GGP in 1999, for the purpose of responding to various development needs engaged in grassroots activities in Palau. As of July 27, 2020, the Embassy has signed 82 grant contracts with schools and hospitals as well as state governments and non-profit organizations. Education, health care and environment are the primary fields prioritized by Japan for GGP in order to contribute to sustainable development of Palau. For further information about GGP, please contact 488-6455 or visit the Embassy of Japan website at http://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html.

 
          On Wednesday, December 12, 2018, Ambassador of Japan Toshiyuki Yamada and Executive Director of Palau Red Cross Society (PRCS) Joanne Maireng Sengebau signed the grant contract for “The Project for Enhancing Community Resilience in Palau,” valued $70,249, under the Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). The signing ceremony was held at the Embassy of Japan and witnessed by Chairman of the PRCS National Governing Board Santy Asanuma and related personnel.
 
          To meet growing needs to build local capacity at the state level in Palau, PRCS has been supporting local communities to become more resilient to the impacts of disaster and climate change including severe weather events. One of their approaches is to enhance community resilience through establishment of Red Cross Disaster Management Action Teams (RDAT) in every state of Palau. RDAT members will be trained as first responders for emergency situations and strengthen community preparedness within their respective states. However, lack of proper vehicle and equipment has been limiting PRCS’s capacity to educate RDAT members and to conduct first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) trainings to local residents in Babeldaob.
 
            To facilitate aforementioned disaster preparedness activities, the Embassy of Japan decided to grant a 4WD pick-up truck and equipment including a satellite telephone, hand-held radios and AED. These items will enable PRCS to provide training and appropriate services to vulnerable populations. Moreover, the pick-up truck will be fully equipped and suitable for assessment of status of remote area during and after disasters.
 
           In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Yamada expressed his hope that the implementation of this project would contribute to enhancement of community resilience and further development of Palauan people.
 
          The Government of Japan launched GGP in 1999, for the purpose of responding to various development needs engaged in grassroots activities in Palau. As of December 12, 2018, the Embassy has signed 74 grant contracts with schools and hospitals as well as state governments and non-profit organizations. Education, health care and environment are the primary fields prioritized by Japan for GGP in order to contribute to sustainable development of Palau. For further information about GGP, please contact 488-6455.