Contamination and Impact

Mines

In 2011, Palau stated for the first time in its Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report that it had mined areas on its territory. Contamination included antivehicle and antipersonnel mines as well as sea mines, all of Japanese origin.[1] In its earlier Article 7 reports, Palau had declared no known or suspected mined areas.[2] In its Article 7 report submitted in 2012, Palau reported that clearance had been completed of all antipersonnel mines at Peleliu in the Umubrogol mountains and in Death Valley in Ngeremlengui. These were the only two areas confirmed to contain antipersonnel mines. Areas suspected to contain antipersonnel mines in caves at Bloody Nose Ridge in the Umubrogol mountains still remain to be cleared.[3]

According to the British NGO Cleared Ground Demining (CGD), however, none of the mined areas contained emplaced antipersonnel mines; contamination was only of abandoned stockpiled mines.[4] In December 2011, in its statement to the Eleventh Meeting of States Parties, Palau stated that it was not “obligated under the AP Convention to destroy emplaced antipersonnel mines because it never produced, stockpiled, used, nor transported them.”[5]

Cluster munition remnants

It is not known to what extent Palau is contaminated with cluster munition remnants. In May 2010, CGD identified and cleared an M41A1 bomb from the Jellyfish Lake tourist path.[6] The use of an AN-M1A1 cluster adaptor enabled eight M41A1 fragmentation bombs to be deployed at the same time, making the weapon similar to modern-day cluster munitions. Two unexploded submunitions were found in 2011.[7] In its voluntary Article 7 report for the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Palau reported the presence of one AN-M41A1 fragmentation bomb at Jellyfish Lake and a second at Koror. Clearance has been incorporated into national explosive remnants of war (ERW) clearance programs.[8] It is not known if these devices have already been destroyed.

Other explosive remnants of war

In November 2005, Palau told States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty that unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from World War II is still found on many of Palau’s 200 islands.[9] An estimated total of 2,800 tons (2.8 million kg) of ordnance was dropped or fired on Palau.[10]

CGD conducted a community survey on Peleliu Island in late 2009 which found that more than one-quarter of households or community infrastructure had ERW contamination.[11] Local inhabitants are exposed to ERW while hunting, fishing, collecting shellfish, and engaging in agricultural activities.[12] A follow-up survey of all households in Peleliu state and Angaur state was conducted in 2010, which led to further reports of contamination in agricultural areas, including taro fields and banana plantations, as well in traditional food gathering areas where the population collects land crabs and hunts fruit bats for food.[13]

Mine Action Program

Palau has been seeking to establish a mine action program to address its mine/ERW contamination. On 15 September 2009, CGD formally launched a UXO clearance operation in Palau on the 65^th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu, the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the South Pacific campaign in World War II.[14] The government has set up a National Mine Action Working Group with representatives from relevant ministries and national agencies. It was in the process of drafting a national plan as of the beginning of August 2011.[15]

If sufficient funding can be secured, CGD believes that Palau could be cleared of its ERW within three to five years.[16]

Land Release

Mine clearance in 2011

Although Palau reported that two suspected mined areas have been cleared of mines, no details of the clearance were provided in its latest Article 7 report.

Compliance with Article 5

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Palau is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 May 2018. Based on available information, it is not believed that Palau has mined areas containing antipersonnel mines, but rather abandoned stockpiles. These should therefore be destroyed in accordance with the obligations under Article 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty. There is a residual risk of antipersonnel mine contamination, however.

Battle area clearance and explosive ordnance disposal in 2011

Battle area clearance (BAC) and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations by CGD in 2011 together accounted for the destruction of 1,698 items of explosive ordnance.[17]

Risk Education

In 2011, CGD conducted a national media campaign and provided risk education (RE) to all schools in Koror state (3,000 children). RE was also conducted in the schools of all 10 States of Babeledaob (575 children).[18]