Regional Approaches to Addressing Explosive Remnants of War

Colleagues,

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Alli, Kaselehlie, Iokwe, Ekamowir omo, Mauri

The topic of regional approaches in addressing explosive remnants of war is important. While some of our problems are complex and abstract, the problems presented by explosive remnants of war are concrete. They are also an unfortunate reality that Pacific Islanders find themselves living with for far too long.

I have had the pleasure to live and work in the Micronesian region covering Palau, FSM, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati for the last two years. A priceless experience. Not only from a cultural, but also from a natural perspective. It is incredible to kayak through mature mangroves in Pohnpei, to see a flock of fruit bats in Utwe Biosphere Reserve in Kosrae or to dive along a reef. Such priceless beauty.

Unfortunately, dangers are lurking in each of these Micronesian countries. Dangers that find their origin in World War II and the devastating fight between the US and Japan with Pacific Islanders seeing their islands and livelihood being laid to waste. Just last week during an internal weekly meeting, our Country Coordination Officer based in Nauru described how an unexploded bomb was discovered. This morning he advised that the bomb will be defused by the Australian military next week.

Going through an experience like this, we can see that ERWs continue to impact the Blue Pacific Continent, including the Micronesian region. Dangerous leftovers of a World War that ended almost eighty years ago. Leftovers that impact SDGs 14, 15, 16, and 17. These are the SDG pertaining to “Life Below Water”, “Life on Land”, “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions”, and “Partnerships for the Goals”.

Let’s briefly touch upon two more examples.

The first one followed Cyclone Pam in March 2015. A cyclone that uncovered deadly ordinance in Kiribati at Tamakin Point in South Tarawa. Ordinance that included over 800 Japanese 8-inch armour piercing high explosive projectiles.

The second example is the famous Chuuk Lagoon. A desirable spot for wreck diving and I hope to add this to my list of life experiences in a few months’ time. However, it is also a ticking environmental bomb. Not due to ERWs, but due to oil. Of the dozens of vessels in Chuuk Lagoon, three of them were identified in 2008 as oil tankers with an estimated 32 million litres of oil still inside. Imagine this, 31 thousand metric tons of oil. Just waiting to escape into the lagoon and utterly ravage it. A 2022 SPREP press release following up on these on wrecks described that, despite the commendable work of the Japanese Mine Action Service and the Australian Government, these wrecks still pose a significant environmental threat to marine ecosystems. Perhaps importantly so, a site like Chuuk Lagoon could well become a UNESCO World Heritage Site if the environmental hazards posed by war relics are handled appropriately. On the other side of the coin, not tackling them means waiting for the environmental crisis that is just around the corner. A crisis that may destroy a fragile ecosystem and will impact food security and people’s livelihoods.

While FSM has dozens of World War II wrecks with approximately 19 at the risk of breaking down, in the Marshall Islands apparently 13 such vessels are at imminent risk of breaking down. It is difficult to know how many, or what kind, of unexploded ordinance might still be within these vessels. However, the vessels themselves are often located in or near tourist attractions, such as Chuuk Lagoon.

What we have been lacking in the Pacific, or at least in Micronesia, is a unified and regional approach to effective tackle ERWs. And do so in a pro-active manner. To go beyond a single government or a sporadic partnership approach in defusing and removing ERWs that are found.

Let’s consider joining hands in reigniting attention on the topic of ERWs in the Pacific as well as the topic of an environmental timebomb such as oil awaiting release from rusting tanks. Let’s join hands in developing and implementing a Programme that will neuter these World War II threats on a more permanent basis.

Thank you