Ontong Java (Lord Howe) Settlement is situated in Northern Honiara, Solomon Islands. Covering only 2.8 hectares, the informal settlement is comprised of over 800 people, predominantly of Polynesian descent, most of which have been internally displaced from Ontong Java Atoll due to climate-related pressures.
Because of the settlement’s location at urban margins, it faces numerous challenges, particularly in the water and sanitation sector. Its informal nature also means that it doesn’t receive reliable government assistance.
Some of the challenges faced by the local community include regular flooding of two-thirds of the area, increased disease and under-5 mortality, rubbish buildup and contamination, unsafe latrines, saltwater intrusion, and contamination of safe drinking sources.
In partnership with the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM), this project aims to address some of these challenges by installing flood-safe latrines, establishing a rubbish collection scheme, installing biodigesters, focusing on health and hygiene education, and maintaining/constructing water catchment systems to meet water needs.
Partner with us to improve health and wellbeing in Ontong Java Settlement through your donation to our Water and Sanitation Programme.
Life in Ontong Java Settlement comes with many challenges, principle among them regular flooding events. Flooding in the settlement comes from three directions: the sea, the neighbouring river, and inland drainage issues. Almost two-thirds of the community is flooded with water during these events. This makes life for the residents vastly different from surrounding communities. Despite this, they remain extraordinarily resilient.
Because the water table is so high, it damages below-ground septic systems, preventing residents from building hygienic latrines, instead using pit toilets suspended above the river or sea. They also face rubbish buildup from increasing floods and drain blockage. This is compounded by regular coastal erosion, which is slowly shrinking the amount of inhabitable land.
Some of the strategies the community uses to cope with these challenges include building homes on stilts, building raised agriculture beds to prevent saltwater intrusion, and utilising water catchment systems which supply cleaner water than the nearby river.
However, community members have expressed a need for further assistance with climate resilience and sanitation, especially as climate change exacerbates and related problems increase. Through this project, we hope to offer practical solutions that prioritise accessibility, sustainability, and human dignity. By building latrines, installing more water tanks, establishing a rubbish collection scheme, and promoting health and hygiene education, the community will be better equipped to face challenges ahead.
