Hardship in the Marshall Islands
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Priorities of the People HARDSHIP IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS March 2003 Asian Development Bank © Asian Development Bank 2003 All rights reserved This publication was prepared by consultants for the Asian Development Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in it do not necessarily repre- sent the views of ADB or those of its member governments. ADB does not guar- antee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequences of their use. Asian Development Bank P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines Website: www.adb.org Contents Introduction 1 Is Hardship Really a Problem in the Marshall Islands? 2 What is Hardship? 3 Who is Facing Hardship? 5 What Causes Hardship? 6 What Can be Done? 13 © Asian Development Bank 2003 All rights reserved This publication was prepared by consultants for the Asian Development Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in it do not necessarily repre- sent the views of ADB or those of its member governments. ADB does not guar- antee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequences of their use. Asian Development Bank P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines Website: www.adb.org Contents Introduction 1 Is Hardship Really a Problem in the Marshall Islands? 2 What is Hardship? 3 Who is Facing Hardship? 5 What Causes Hardship? 6 What Can be Done? 13 Introduction n the Marshall Islands, abject poverty or destitution (jeramwil) does not exist since the poor are not starving and Imost have access to land and other natural resources. However, many people are poor and facing hardship, and the problem seems Two thirds of to be getting worse. The 1999 Pacific Human Development Re- port ranked the Marshall Islands 8th out of 12 Pacific developing outer-islanders countries, which represents a downgrading from the country’s position as 5th in 1994. It is estimated that, in 1999, two thirds of live on less outer island households fell below the poverty line of $1 a day. The Marshall Islands is one of the most urbanized countries in than $1 a day the Pacific with almost 70% of the population living either on Majuro or Ebeye. The high population density on these two islands, combined with economic decline in rural areas, are the cause of many of the problems being experienced. There have been recent improvements, particularly in the areas of infant mortality, immunization, and the incidence of underweight children, but the government recognizes that it needs to better understand the nature of hardship in the country and develop ways to address it. In 2002, the government led a “Partici- patory Assessment on Hardship” to find out the needs, views, and hopes of communities living throughout the country, especially the A house made of scrap disadvantaged and poor themselves. materials 1 Ten sample communities were selected to represent both rural and urban areas and differing levels of access to services: four outer Working Mother, 31 Years Old Discussions island communities on Ailinglaplap and Arno Atolls, three urban neighborhoods on Ebeye Island, and three communities on Majuro She lives with her husband in a one- not enough jobs and the rate of pay is were held with Atoll. One-on-one interviews, small group discussions, question- room house in Rita. They have five chil- not enough for one family. He said that naires, and case studies were used during the assessment to gather dren from 7 to 14 years old, but only lots of children go around looking for people in 10 information from people in these communities, and discussions two live with them. The eldest lives on food and sometimes all they have to eat Majuro and two others were adopted by is coconut meat with salt. were held with government representatives and social, religious, non-Marshallese parents in the United She spoke about the stress women communities and nongovernment organizations. A national workshop was held States. Her husband has not worked for feel due to problems with their hus- to discuss the assessment findings and formulate strategies and a long time. He left school when he met bands and the heavy burden placed on recommendations. The assessment was funded by the Asian De- her and she became pregnant. Their working mothers. She said she often velopment Bank. house is made of cement bricks with a suffers from headaches and grumpiness cement floor and tin roof. However, as a result. She acknowledges that things parts of the wall have collapsed and are difficult, but says that they have there are plywood screens hiding a enough to get by. She says their eco- gaping hole. They have no water nomic situation has always been a Is Hardship Really a catchments or electricity. struggle and she has not seen any She started working at the fish fac- changes over time. Speaking about the tory on Majuro about 2 months ago and difference between the levels of hard- Problem in the Marshall earns $100 a fortnight including over- ship found on Majuro and the outer time. Her husband said the economic islands, she said, “There is no difference. Islands? situation is really bad because there are We are all struggling.” some argued that abject poverty does not exist, while others said he individuals and families consulted during the assess- the vast majority of Marshallese are poor when international stan- ment said that poverty and hardship are experienced dard of living levels are considered. Most people favored a middle Tthroughout the Marshall Islands. During the discussions, position that recognizes the relative disadvantage of certain groups within the Marshall Islands, as well as acknowledging the country’s relative disadvantage compared to more developed coun- tries. There is also a growing gap between rich and poor due to the concentration of highly paid public servants on the urban islands of Majuro and Ebeye; US Compact and federal funding that largely benefit urban areas, and nuclear compensation and lease pay- ments that benefit communities on certain islands; the continu- ing decline in the price of copra (the economic mainstay of the outer islands); and a lack of low-skilled jobs in both urban and rural Not having areas. enough to meet What is Hardship? basic needs he primary goal of the assessment was to identify the people’s perceptions of poverty and hardship by talking to 2 Tkey community leaders (chiefs, elders, church leaders), 3 Ten sample communities were selected to represent both rural and urban areas and differing levels of access to services: four outer Working Mother, 31 Years Old Discussions island communities on Ailinglaplap and Arno Atolls, three urban neighborhoods on Ebeye Island, and three communities on Majuro She lives with her husband in a one- not enough jobs and the rate of pay is were held with Atoll. One-on-one interviews, small group discussions, question- room house in Rita. They have five chil- not enough for one family. He said that naires, and case studies were used during the assessment to gather dren from 7 to 14 years old, but only lots of children go around looking for people in 10 information from people in these communities, and discussions two live with them. The eldest lives on food and sometimes all they have to eat Majuro and two others were adopted by is coconut meat with salt. were held with government representatives and social, religious, non-Marshallese parents in the United She spoke about the stress women communities and nongovernment organizations. A national workshop was held States. Her husband has not worked for feel due to problems with their hus- to discuss the assessment findings and formulate strategies and a long time. He left school when he met bands and the heavy burden placed on recommendations. The assessment was funded by the Asian De- her and she became pregnant. Their working mothers. She said she often velopment Bank. house is made of cement bricks with a suffers from headaches and grumpiness cement floor and tin roof. However, as a result. She acknowledges that things parts of the wall have collapsed and are difficult, but says that they have there are plywood screens hiding a enough to get by. She says their eco- gaping hole. They have no water nomic situation has always been a Is Hardship Really a catchments or electricity. struggle and she has not seen any She started working at the fish fac- changes over time. Speaking about the tory on Majuro about 2 months ago and difference between the levels of hard- Problem in the Marshall earns $100 a fortnight including over- ship found on Majuro and the outer time. Her husband said the economic islands, she said, “There is no difference. Islands? situation is really bad because there are We are all struggling.” some argued that abject poverty does not exist, while others said he individuals and families consulted during the assess- the vast majority of Marshallese are poor when international stan- ment said that poverty and hardship are experienced dard of living levels are considered. Most people favored a middle Tthroughout the Marshall Islands. During the discussions, position that recognizes the relative disadvantage of certain groups within the Marshall Islands, as well as acknowledging the country’s relative disadvantage compared to more developed coun- tries. There is also a growing gap between rich and poor due to the concentration of highly paid public servants on the urban islands of Majuro and Ebeye; US Compact and federal funding that largely benefit urban areas, and nuclear compensation and lease pay- ments that benefit communities on certain islands; the continu- ing decline in the price of copra (the economic mainstay of the outer islands); and a lack of low-skilled jobs in both urban and rural Not having areas.