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Opening of Palau National Emergency
Operation Centre
Construction has been completed on the new Emergency Operation Centre for the Government of Palau at a
cost of about US$480,000.00. Funding for the building was made available by the European Union through the
Disaster Risk Reduction Project (EU EDF 9 B Envelope Project) implemented by SOPAC.
The President of the Republic of Palau, His Excellency Johnson Toribiong and SOPAC Director, Dr. Russell
Howorth, unveiled the plaque officially opening the building. In his opening statement Dr. Russell Howorth
stated that “ the new Emergency Operation Centre will strengthen the capacity of the National Emergency
Management Office prepare for and respond to natural disasters. It is important that we build community
resilience to reduce the loss of human life.” The project will also equip the new building with early warning
communication equipment and improve the linkage with remote communities.
In expressing the gratitude of the Government and people of Palau for the state of the art building, President
Toribiong said “ the new National Emergency Management Office is very important because it will be used to
provide critical information to the public during emergencies. And we are very grateful to the European Union
(EU), and SOPAC/SPC for this infrastructure. We look forward to continued cooperation between EU SOPAC/
SPC and Palau on future emergency preparedness projects.”
SOPAC has also assisted the Government in
developing the National Disaster Risk Management
Framework (DRM) for Palau that lays out updated
DRM governance arrangements and continues
to support Government efforts in implementing
priorities under the new Framework. In the near
future support will be extended to develop and
implement a Joint DRM and Climate Change
Adaptation National Action Plan. This new plan or
JNAP as it is now commonly referred to across the
region will be a very useful mechanism for Palau to
use to guide future investments in DRM and CCA.
The EU made available a total of €600,000 to the
Government of Palau for disaster management
through the Disaster Risk Reduction Project.