The Third handover ceremony took place
On January 14, 2021, Palau Automated Land and Resource Information System Office (PALARIS) held the third official handover ceremony for Enhancing Disaster and Climate Resilience Project in Palau. Japan initiated this project, funding 7.5 million US dollars, coordinating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to improve the country’s resilience to natural disasters and climate change impact.
The ceremony was attended by His Excellency KARASAWA Akira, Ambassador of Japan, Mr. David Idip, Senior GIS Analyst of PALARIS, Ms. Aleyda Valdes, UNDP Country Project Coordinator Palau, as well as other key national counterparts and members of the media.
Ambassador Karasawa handed over two vehicles and nine computers, which will be used for LiDER Study throughout Palau, to PALARIS at the ceremony. LiDER Study is a digital mapping survey that aims to grasp the geography and acknowledge the risk of natural disasters, and it will be the very first time for Palau to conduct nationwide digital mapping survey.
At the ceremony, Mr. Idip thanked the support of the Government of Japan and stated that the information gathered from LiDER Study will be the baseline and would contribute not only to disaster prevention but also to other areas of development in Palau.
Ambassador Karasawa remarked that Palau would be able to understand its geographical situation and identify its vulnerable areas through LiDER Study, and said that the information could ensure people’s safety and protect their lives in Palau.