Koror – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently handed over two container storage units to the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) in the Republic of Palau to strengthen readiness for slow and sudden onset climate hazards.  

During the handover of one container storage on May 16, 2024 in Kayangel State, Waymine Towai, Executive Director of NEMO welcomed this development noting that “since 2022, our collaboration with partners, including IOM, has focused on strengthening first responder agencies’ capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Strengthening warehousing capacity in the more remote outlying states is a pivotal step towards minimizing loss.” The second handover was in Angaur State on May 21.

Yohan Senarath, IOM Micronesia Head of Sub Office, thanked NEMO for their continued partnership and highlighted that the container units are part of IOM’s commitment to enhance Palau’s preparedness. “In keeping with the UN’s 2030 Agenda to ‘leave no one behind,’ ensuring the inclusion of marginalized communities is paramount,” he said. 

Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the units, with a storage capacity of 28,200 kg, will serve as decentralized warehouses to stockpile essential emergency supplies, such as water, sanitation and hygiene kits, emergency shelter supplies and other necessary goods.  

With assistance from IOM, NEMO deployed the storage units to Palau’s outlying states of Kayangel and Angaur, located 83 km and 61 km from the capital city of Koror, respectively. 

Like many nations in the North Pacific Region, Palau faces recurrent disaster risks such as typhoons, king tides and droughts – the most recent of which were Typhoon Surigae in 2021 and brief drought conditions in March and April this year.  

Delivering assistance poses major challenges in the North Pacific, with many island communities dispersed all over the ocean. Air and sea travel can be delayed due to poor weather conditions, hindering the delivery of food, medicines and other essential items to these remote outlying islands.    

Amidst the challenges of accessing Kayangel and Anguar States as well as the islands’ lack of emergency supplies, the two NEMO units will help address immediate needs following disaster events. 

A third unit is scheduled to be deployed by NEMO and IOM in Peleliu, another outlying state of Palau. All three units will be stocked with emergency relief items later this year.  

For further information, please contact at IOM Micronesia: Haimanot Abebe, Email: haabebe@iom.int, +691 320 8735