MORE than 2,200 dangerous munitions have been safely identified and disposed of across East New Britain during a 10-day operation involving the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and regional partners.
Operation Render Safe 2026, took place across the Rabaul, Kokopo and Gazelle districts, where unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war from the Second World War continue to pose risks to local communities.
For the more than 430,000 people living across East New Britain, the removal of these hazards represents safer land, reduced risk to families and greater opportunities for development throughout the province.
Director of the East New Britain Provincial Disaster and Emergency Services Centre, Donald Tokunai, said explosive remnants of war remain a serious concern more than 80 years after the conflict ended.
“The number of war remnants in our communities is huge, and new discoveries are still being reported,” Mr Tokunai said.
“These hazards threaten lives, property and development across East New Britain.”
Mr Tokunai said the clearance effort is critical to improving safety and enabling future growth.
“Clearing these items promotes community safety and supports development across our province,” he said.
Operation Render Safe is now in its 22nd year and remains an ADF-led multinational effort, bringing together partner nations to locate, identify and safely dispose of explosive hazards across the Pacific.
Officer Commanding Operation Render Safe, Major Joseph Gurung, said protecting communities was a key motivation for participating teams.
“Our personnel are driven by the opportunity to help local communities by increasing public safety through the removal of explosive remnants of war,” Major Gurung said.
The 2026 operation also included specialised disposal activities, with some items destroyed in place and others made safe before removal to ensure safe handling.
Mr Tokunai highlighted the strong support from local communities, noting that the presence of joint teams encouraged residents to report suspected hazards.
“We have seen overwhelming support, and together we are helping to create safer communities for future generations,” he said.
Australia is proud to work side by side with Papua New Guinea on Operation Render Safe, ensuring the safety of local communities, while increasing the capability of both defence forces and further strengthening their enduring partnership.