Since the end of World War II, explosive remnants of war have continued to impact on the lives of Pacific islanders. They pose a threat to the lives of people in the region, and are a barrier to development and economic growth.
Today marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action [external link]. While a lot of work still remains to be done to safely clear the Pacific of this ordnance, significant progress has already been made.
Last month, the team from the non-government organisation Cleared Ground Demining located and removed their 30,000th item of explosive ordnance from Palau. Cleared Ground Demining has been operating in Palau for more than four years and has successfully cleared hand grenades, torpedoes, mortars and rockets from the country. The organisation's current operations are entirely funded by Australia.
Each individual item of ordnance that has been removed tells an impressive story about improved safety, improved access to services and improved quality of life for the people of Palau.
The removal of 58 items of ordnance on Peleliu Island, for instance, cleared the surface route for a new water pipeline. This will protect the safety of construction workers and ultimately bring clean drinking water to households. Part of this land will also be returned to its original use of growing tapioca, thus benefitting local famers.
A further 19 items of ordnance were located in the vicinity of the Peleliu Medical Clinic, allowing for safer passage for people to receive medical treatment. 53 items have been cleared from a popular recreational area at Scarlet Beach, improving safety for locals and tourists alike.
But Palau is just one of nine Pacific island countries contaminated by explosive ordnance. The Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are all also affected.
Last year an Australia-funded Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training School opened on Peleliu Island to help address this threat. The school is run by Cleared Ground Demining and is training Pacific organisations and law enforcement authorities to safely identify and remove explosive remnants of war.
Cleared Ground Demining carried out their first Explosive Ordnance Disposal Level 1 course in 2013. Ten of Cleared Ground Demining's national staff completed the course and now have the skills to locate, excavate and identify explosive ordnance, and determine whether they are safe to move. The school will adopt a broader regional focus this year. Police from Kiribati have been invited to be the first international participants.