Investing in the Future of the Pacific: U.S. Assistance Continues to Address WWII-era Explosive Hazards
CISR
This headline is brought to you by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) which works to support resilience and recovery in global communities affected by war and conflict.
(DipNote) At the height of WWII from 1941 to 1945, military forces from the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand clashed in a series of battles across the Pacific Islands.
Large stocks of munitions predominantly from the United States and Japan were shipped to various islands to support ongoing military operations. Unused and abandoned munitions as well as other explosive items that failed to detonate were left scattered across islands and atolls, buried in the sand, or submerged in surrounding lagoons.
At the conclusion of WWII, a large amount of UXO remained, posing a significant threat to local communities. After more than seven decades, the presence of WWII ordnance continues to affect nine Pacific Island nations: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.