Not at all. Db is not linear, so "suddenly have to put up with" "about 1/4 of the noise." Would be more accurate.
An example difference of 12db is a muffled idling compact car versus a consumer lawnmower at 10'.
Yeah, I know what a difference of -Xdb is, as I do audio production work. Another example of 12db difference is a blender vs a vacuum cleaner. But despite it being -12db lower (or even a little more), I wouldn't stand to listen to the latter, still. So it's not just the difference that matters, it's the initial level.
The actual noise level they now have to put up with didn't exist in their village, and what did exist didn't have the specific sound / frequency distribution - so it's still annoying - maddening even, if you need to suffer because some others decided to put those things a few hundred meters near you.
Even if it compared it wouldn't make it much better, because those islands don't have any sizable traffic on roads - and almost insignificant near those villages.
So, its like suddenly they have to put up with road-level noise (if not worse), on their remote village in some remote island - and not even from their own cars.
At those distances it's like suddenly all around your village there's a airconditioner-level noise... Mighty annoying to people who have enjoyed mostly nature-level silence for all of their lives...