In the Republic of Palau, Australia’s support is helping to remove thousands of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) littered across the country, a legacy of World War II.

Today marks International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and is a reminder to all Australians of the devastating impact landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war have on communities, and the need to do more to support the eradication of these devices.

1. The government of the Republic of Korea has decided to provide some 50,000 US dollars in humanitarian assistance to Palau that sustained enormous damage from Typhoon Bopha on December 3.

• The typhoon left 92 housing structures totaled and another 59 partially destroyed, displacing 350 people.

1. The aforementioned contribution will be used to provide relief supplies to victims through the Palau Red Cross.

   Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

• unofficial translation

Assessment teams under the coordination of National Emergencey Management Office (NEMO) conducted an Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) of 666 residences in 6 affected states. Initial results indicate 112 houses completely damaged and 136 houses with major damages. Also, two schools in Ngaraard suffered serious damages. This map shows these locations with charts and tables stating number and scale of damages.

Updated 11 December 2012, 17:50 AEST

It's just over a week since Typhoon Bopha swept through the Palau island chain on its destructive path towards the Philippines.

Audio: Large scale reconstruction efforts underway in typhoon damaged Palau

No casualties occurred, but the southern islands were badly affected.

The authorities have assessed the damaged and a big relief effort is underway.

Highlights

• A State of Emergency has been declared.
• Congress has been asked to appropriate US$10 million for response and recovery efforts.
• Current priorities are shelter, water, sanitation and power. 92 houses have been completely destroyed and 59 houses have major damages. Initial Damage Assessments are continuing, with results still pending.
• No casualties or major injuries have been reported.
• The hospital and clinics will resume normal operations as of today.
• A Recovery Task Force has been established

Highlights

Typhoon Bopha passed south of the larger islands of the Palau archipelago early this morning, with winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. Initial reports suggest that the nation’s capital, Koror, escaped significant damage. Information on damage outside Koror is slowly coming in but more is expected tomorrow, 4 December, when assessment teams deploy. The typhoon is moving away from Palau in a westnorthwest track in the direction of the Philippines.

Link: Typhoon Bopha Situation Report No. 1 (as of 3 December 2012)

What are the current conditions?

Authorities and disaster managers are on high alert with current predictions that Tropical Storm Bopha (TS Bopha) will pass close to Palau as a Category 4 tropical cyclone with the potential for a significant impact.

As of this morning, TS Bopha remains a Category 2 tropical cyclone with maximum winds averaging 93 km near the centre.

This morning’s satellite imagery shows that the system is becoming better organized and is continuing to intensify.