Marshall Islands schools, housing developments in pipeline

2:46 pm on 30 November 2015

Badly needed development projects are finally in the pipeline for the overcrowded island of Ebeye in the Marshall Islands.

Ebeye in Kwajalein Atoll, where an estimated 12,000 people live on 78 acres of land, has serious housing issues and the lowest academic results of any public schools in the country.

Our correspondent, Giff Johnson, says about US$4.2 million dollars of funding from the United States for development projects on the island has gone unused for many years.

But he says the new Kwajalein Atoll Development Authority executive director, Carl Hacker, is pushing to get development projects going.

"Getting the US$20 million development project for a new public elementary school going which involves relocating a few families to make room for construction work. And a second big one is revamping, rebuilding housing for Kwajalein Atoll islanders who were evacuated, relocated from their home islands from the US Army more than 50 years ago."

Youth in Ebeye

Youth in Ebeye Photo: RNZI / Giff Johnson