Lord Howe Settlement (also known as Ontong Java 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 the Lord Howe community has been internally displaced from Ontong Java Atoll due to climate-related pressures.
Because of Lord Howe’s location at urban margins, it faces numerous challenges, particularly with water security and sanitation. The settlement’s 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 exploring flood-safe latrine options, rubbish collection solutions, and health and hygiene public education.
Partner with us to improve health and wellbeing in Lord Howe Settlement through your donation to our Water and Sanitation Programme.
Life in Lord Howe Settlement comes with many challenges, and principle among them are regular flooding events. Flooding in the settlement comes from three directions: from the sea, from the neighbouring river, and from inland drainage issues. During heavy rains, almost two-thirds of the community is flooded. This complicates life in the settlement, forcing residents to continue on with normal life despite regular inundation during wet season and related disease risks.
Because the water table is so high in Lord Howe, it is impossible to build below-ground septic systems, as they would be quickly washed away during flooding. Instead, residents tend to utilise pit toilets suspended above the river or sea. In addition, the community contains a significant quantity of rubbish buildup due to waste accumulation and drain blockage.
All of 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 focusing on health and wellbeing through improved water, hygiene, and sanitation, the community will be better equipped to face challenges ahead.
