JFY2022 GGP “The Project for Procurement of Equipment to Promote Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Disposal in Peleliu and Angaur States”

On August 12, 2025, the Embassy conducted its second-year follow-up visit for “The Project for Procurement of Equipment to Promote Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Disposal in Peleliu and Angaur States,” for Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), which received up to USD $209,081 in funding through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) to support UXO clearance operations in Peleliu, Angaur, and throughout Palau.

With this support, NPA acquired two Toyota 4WD Land Cruiser trucks and a 38-foot boat fitted with twin 200-horsepower Yamaha engines. During the follow-up visit, the Embassy is pleased to report that all equipment remains in excellent condition, well maintained, and is used daily in the field.

Now two years later, NPA has completed survey and clearance operations covering over two hundred thousand square meters and removed more than a thousand explosive remnants of war (ERW) throughout the country. This ongoing effort is carried out in close partnership with the Palau Government’s National Safety Office and Japan Action Mine Service (JMAS), who work alongside NPA to ensure safe and coordinated UXO disposal activities across the islands, including the removal of ordnance from sites such as Helmet Wreck. Beyond UXO clearance, NPA also supports the Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties (JARRWC) bone collection team by conducting thorough field surveys in Peleliu and Angaur to ensure their safe bone recovery operations.

On October 13, 2023, His Excellency, ORIKASA Hiroyuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Palau, formally handed over equipment to Promote Unexploded Ordnance Disposal. The handover ceremony for “The Project for Procurement of Equipment to Promote Unexploded Ordnance Disposal” took place in Koror and was attended by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) Deputy Program Manager Ms. Andrea Borres, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries Safety Officer Mr. Hanson Ngirakesau and others.
 
The grant, worth a total of US$ 209,081, is the first assistance to NPA from the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Palau. In cooperation with the national and state governments of Palau, NPA has processed approximately 21,000 Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) in Babeldaob and is working in Peleliu and Angaur, where were the fiercest battlefields of World War II with more than 20,000 Japanese and US soldiers were killed or wounded and more than 2,800 tons of bombs dropped on both islands. These ERW pose a threat to the daily lives of local residents and are an obstacle to land and industrial development, including tourism and agriculture, on both islands.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, NPA representative Ms. Borres said “The acquisition of these assets will enable the NPA effectively reach remote areas, benefiting both the citizens and visitors of Peleliu and Angaur. It will ensure that Palau is no longer adversely affected by ERW. We appreciate the Government of Japan and also all those involved in making this project possible.”
 
“Although the treatment of ERW takes a long time, I strongly believe that it is our responsibility to continue the disposal of ERW for the present and future generations of Palau and to strengthen the partnership between Japan and Palau. We will continue to monitor the project to ensure that the newly procured items are fully utilized and properly maintained so that such an important on-island ERW treatment project can continue.” Ambassador Orikasa commented.
 
The Ambassador went on to request the NPA’s continued cooperation with the Japanese human remains collection project in Peleliu and Angaur States, to which the NPA’s Ms. Borres confirmed its cooperation.
 
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 October 13, 2023, the Embassy has signed 99 grant contracts with schools and hospitals as well as state governments and non-profit organizations. Education, health care and the environment are priority areas for the GGP to contribute to Palau’s sustainable development. Today’s handover ceremony marks the 94th GGP program in Palau.
 
Ambassador Orikasa stressed that, “In line with our ODA policy that ODA funds come from Japanese taxpayers, the Embassy of Japan must ensure the accountability and transparency to both Japanese and Palauans in the implementation and results, including the GGP projects, for at least the next five years. This is our responsibility.”

On 9 January 2023, a grant signing ceremony for “The project for procurement of equipment to Norwegian People’s Aid to Promote Unexploded Ordnance Disposal in Peleliu and Angaur States” under Japan’s Grassroots and Human Security Grant Aid Project (GGP) was held at the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Palau. The ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Japan ORIKASA Hiroyuki, Program Manager of Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) in Palau Mr. Andrew Wyles, Governor of Angaur State Hon.Steven R.Salii and a representative from Peleliu State.
 
Peleliu and Angaur Islands were one of the most fierce battlegrounds of World War II, in which more than 20,000 Japanese and U.S. soldiers were dead or wounded, and more than 2,800 tons of bombs were dropped throughout on both islands. These ERW (explosive remnants of war) are a threat to the daily lives of the residents and an obstacle to land and industrial development, including tourism and agriculture on both islands.
 
NPA (Norwegian People’s Aid) is a Norway-based international NGO specializing in ERW treatment that has been active in Palau since 2015. In collaboration with the national and state governments of Palau, NPA has so far processed approximately 21,000 ERWs mainly in Babeldaob Island. NPA plans to start their operations in Peleliu and Angaur from this year, and is in need of two vehicles for on-island ERW treatment and one boat for transportation.
 
Based on the urgent needs for treatment of ERW in Peleliu and Angaur as well as the sincere request from NPA, the Embassy of Japan has decided to grant financial assistance for NPA to procure two vehicles and one boat through Japan’s GGP. The grant worth 209,081 USD in total is the first assistance to NPA from the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Palau.
 
At the ceremony, Ambassador Orikasa said, “I believe this grant assistance will contribute to NPA’s ERW treatment activities in Peleliu and Angaur, which leads to removal of ERW and improvement of residents’ human security and development in both islands. It is our responsibility to proceed ERW removal for the current and future generations of Palau and strengthen partnership between Japan and Palau “Program Manager Mr. Wyles said, “I am deeply grateful for the generous support of the people and government of Japan to benefit lives of all people in Peleliu and Angaur States.”
 
The Government of Japan launched GGP in 1999 to meet development needs in grassroots activities in Palau. The Embassy of Japan has signed 95 grant contracts with schools, hospitals, state governments and NGOs. For further information about GGP, please contact 488-6455 or visit the Embassy of Japan website at https://www.palau.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/about_ggp.html