Palau’s biodiversity is threatened by rising sea levels.
Climate change, a personal issue
For Techitong, these climate-related dangers are deeply personal.
“I fear the places I grew up could be underwater for decades to come,” he said. “I don’t want future generations to only hear stories about what Palau used to be. That’s what motivates me.”
She is currently working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Palau alongside the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), overseeing the strengthening of climate-resilient shelters across the country.
Techitong visits one of the IOM-supported disaster shelters.
Strengthening national resilience
Techitong’s work is part of a broader United Nations effort to support Palau’s resilience to the adverse effects of extreme weather events through a long-term, integrated approach.
The UN works together with the Government of Palau and civil society on four interconnected pillars: people, planet, prosperity and peace.
Developing community resilience to extreme climate events and strengthening disaster risk reduction encompasses these four pillars, as resilience is not only environmental, but also social, economic and institutional.
The shelters that Techitong oversees put this vision into practice.
Techitong talks to one of the construction workers building shelters.
Shelters are designed to function as a connected national network of safe spaces accessible to all people during emergencies.
Built to withstand strong winds, heavy rain and flooding, they will be equipped with typhoon shutters, rainwater harvesting systems, solar lighting, generators and water filtration systems.
Four of the eight shelters have already been reinforced and delivered to the Palau community.
“Reinforced shelters consider the needs of people with disabilities and other vulnerable people, so that no one is left behind during emergencies,” said Alex Iyar, a community member involved in the consultations that led to the development of this project.
Beyond infrastructure, the project is strengthening local capacity. Red Cross community disaster response teams are being trained to manage shelters before, during and after emergencies, strengthening local leadership and ownership.
It gives me hope that my children can still enjoy the best parts of Palau that I grew up with.
Address the risk of displacement and protect social cohesion
Across the Pacific, climate displacement is becoming more common. According to IOM data on global displacement trends, climate-related disasters have caused hundreds of millions of internal displacements over the past decade.
Disasters are fundamentally changing mobility patterns around the world and disproportionately affect small island states like Palau.
While disaster shelters can’t prevent sea levels from rising, they can buy time, protect lives, and help communities stay rooted for as long as possible.
For Di Maech, a local conservation worker in Palau, this is very important. “In Palau, our communities are learning, growing and finding ways to be resilient to disasters thanks to UN-supported projects.
“It gives me hope that my children can still enjoy the best parts of Palau that I grew up with.”
Di Maech is a conservation worker from Palau.
Invest in youth leadership
IOM’s Techitong believes shelters are critical to national resilience. “These shelters are not just emergency shelters, they are community centers that support preparedness, connection and adaptation,” he said.
Techitong still swims in the ocean when he can. Water remains beautiful, powerful, and deeply familiar, even when it carries new uncertainty.
“I grew up learning to move with the waves,” he says. “My job now is to ensure our communities can do the same. Adapt, protect each other, and keep Palau standing.”
Young Palauans play volleyball in Kuabes Park, an area that could be under water in the next 30 years.