Solomon Islands: Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change

Fr George Elo with tanks © ACOM 2016, used with permission.

 

This is part of the Community Development Program: Learn more about ABM’s Programs here

 

The Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) has developed a comprehensive Action Plan for addressing Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change, which is being supported by several agencies, including ABM.

The Action Plan has three main outcomes;

• Implement appropriate policies and activities to increase community resilience, in the context of emerging Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Programs.

• Increased food production and crop yield in the previous flood-affected communities and other low lying areas.

• Increased capacity of communities to plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and respond to changes in climate-related risks.

ACOM Aid and Program Officer Mr Casper Super, said training will be run that aims to assist church leaders in understanding more about climate change, disaster and also trauma counselling.

He said the training will strengthen the Church’s role and responsibilities when it comes to climate change and disasters.

Mr Super said, “The Church is often the centre of communities and therefore it is important for church leaders to know the three components in order to help people during disaster.”

He said the plan will help establish effective links between the ACOM headquarters and diocesan headquarters so that climate change and disaster awareness are carried out effectively in all communities.

Specifically, ABM funding will be directed towards communities that were worst-affected by the flooding of Honiara in April 2014. These families are still living in a precarious situation, after being relocated by the Solomon Islands government to higher ground.

Access to clean water and basic sanitation is limited in this area and ACOM has identified the provision of water tanks as an urgent priority. Four 2,500L capacity tanks have now been delivered to the community site, and work is underway to install them. Training will also be provided in this community relating to Disaster Preparedness, so a Disaster Risk Reduction Plan may be developed and implemented in the event of future emergencies.

One 3,000L capacity tank will also be provided to the Christian Care Centre (CCC) in Honiara, which ABM has historically supported. The CCC was established to care for female victims of domestic violence, providing a safe haven for many over the past few years. The increasing demand for CCC services, along with their vulnerability to future flooding, has made this extra supply of clean water an absolute necessity.

Approximately 1,000 people will benefit from this portion of the project funded by ABM. Your gift to this project will have a lasting impact as this work provides short and long term solutions to the effects of climate change in the Solomon Islands.

SB012EP needs $24,000 in 2017 (tax-deductible)

 

HOW TO DONATE

You can make an online donation to this project.  

 

Alternatively, for donations by cheque/money order (made out to the Anglican Board of Mission – Australia), telephone or email, view contact details here. Please don’t forget to include the project name and/or code with your payment details.

Gifts to ABM will be applied to the support of project(s) selected. In the unlikely event of the project being oversubscribed or not proceeding to completion, donations will be applied to a similar project to the one(s) selected.

 

PROJECT UPDATE

April 2017 – The Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) recently provided an update on all their Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change activities, including the installation of the water tanks purchased last year with ABM funding. Read more.

 

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