Resettlement Villages as a possible solution for the Iraqi IDP and Refugee Crisis.
Resettlement Villages as a possible solution for the Iraqi IDP and Refugee Crisis.
(This is my opinion/idea, as far as I know this is not being looked at, I'm putting it out here for the SWC as a discussion topic based off a previous thread cited below)
It has been widely reported that Iraq is facing a monumental crisis with regard to citizens fleeing or being evicted from their traditional homes due to violence and the threat of violence. It is estimated by the UN that there are close to 2 million Iraqi refugees living in camps legally and illegally in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Further it s reported that there are nearly another million internally displaced persons within Iraq. The refugee crisis has spread as far as the U.S. Southern border, as reported by the El Paso Times, where desperate Iraqi’s have been found attempting to cross over from Mexico. The numbers in question mean that as many as 12% of the Iraqi population is either in refugee or IDP status. These refugees and IDP are generally living in squalid camps where they are at risk from many angles. They are participating in black-market economies, are targeted for criminal exploitation and are subject to potential recruitment by violent extremists. While this presents a terrific problem to the forces currently struggling to stabilize Iraq it also offers an opportunity.
The opportunity offered is that these at risk populations can be sources of strength. These people fled or were forced to flee by threat of violence and death due to a lack of security. This reason for their flight can be addressed through the establishment of secure resettlement villages. I estimate that the creation of 2,000, one hundred family, self sustaining, resettlement villages in secure areas across Iraq would go far to alleviate the refugee and IDP situation. Further, and here in lies the opportunity, the provision of safe and secure villages for these at risk populations in which to resettle would be a major public relations benefit.
The goal of this resettlement program would be to bring the refugees back home to Iraq, reduce pressure on the borders, reduce the dangers inherent with large displaced populations, and to improve the living conditions for the refugee and IDP populations. A successful effort would draw pressure away from overpopulated or at risk areas. The goal would be to win the loyalty of the displaced population by providing them with a healthy and secure living area.
The model village would be organized on a frame of one hundred families in one hundred single family homes, an Iraqi security force detachment, a volunteer civil guard from within the families and an elected town council from which a mayor and police chief would be drawn. The town would be built around a community center with both elementary and primary school facilities, be provided a medical clinic, power generator, water purifier and sanitation facility. These villages could be established quickly and efficiently by the use of prefab containerized housing units.
Containerized housing has been utilized for U.S. military base housing in expeditionary areas, but has also been utilized by universities and private groups’ world wide. The advantage is that the villages can be constructed, including the power, water, medical, schools and community center in safety outside Iraq. These prefabs can then be loaded on container ships and brought to Kuwait where they can be offloaded and driven via truck to the designated sites. While this would involve a large number of convoys the number would most likely be less than that necessary to construct the same number of villages in a more traditional manner.
List of Sources:
IDP and Refugee issues for Iraq
http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=2528
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2006.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/0DFE4F16EEA15853C125724200492AAC-Full_Report.pdf/$File/Full_Report.pdf
http://www.internal-displacement.org...nt&count=10000
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/82978.pdf
http://www3.brookings.edu/fp/project...200706iraq.pdf
http://www.unhcr.org/statistics/STAT.../4676a71d4.pdf
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_6684100
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...101359_pf.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...n_iraq&sp=true
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle...fae5b1b17.html
Historical “Strategic Hamlet” program
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel...gon2/pent4.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Hamlet_Program
http://www.tamilnation.org/armed_conflict/thompson.htm
http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/vietnamce...sium/2002Paper
s_files/peoples.htm
http://www.psywarrior.com/VNHamletPSYOP.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/ke...f/iv/12674.htm
Containerized Housing
http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm
Iraqi refugees to the US or get them to go back?
I address this situation as it as been brought up in all the Petreaus-Crocker Senate and House testamonies, the President mentioned it, and becuase the crisis is also an opportunity for the US. Below is a story from NPR that hits the crisis pretty well and fairly current. 1.5-2 million refugees, and several thousand coming to the States. Wouldn't it be better to build safe and secure housing for them in Iraq? The cost tends to be a question but as I've found in the research the Syrians and Jordanians who have the bulk of the refugees are willing to pay and looking for help. If we the US could get the Saudis and Kuwaitis to kick in cash, the US systems of PRT's, Contractors and Military forces could resttle these folks quickly and effectively. -T
"Syria and Jordan are appealing for help in dealing with a refugee crisis from Iraq, where more than 2 million people have left the country.
The United States has pledged to bring in about 7,000 Iraqi refugees this year, but has yet to come even close to that number. Members of Congress are getting frustrated with the slow pace of admissions — particularly for Iraqis targeted because of their association with the Americans."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=12334759
Resettlement Villages not Reservations
I dont necessarily see the connection, though I do see the need to NOT do the same things that followed in reservations. The resettlement should be voluntary. This is why I push prefab housing, it could be modern , clean, the village would have its own POWER grid-meaning AC, Lights, and running CLEAN water. Prefab laundry facilites, a community center with an AUDIO VISUAL suite and satelite tv capacity, cellular phone repeater, etc.
I know you say no way to costly. I once again offer Syria as the test. Syria estimates 1 Billion to pay for one year of current refugee support. 1 Billion buys a lot of prefab buildings and amenites. A village of 100 homes a community center, police station/barracks, clinic, laundry, with power and water treatment laid out on concrete slabs, with a paved or gravel road net, and perhaps a protective chain link fence (approximatley 130-150 buildings) with delivery and installation would cost in the realm of (this is a swag for argument sake). 20 Million US. The BILLION dollars from Syria would go a long way to building these Villages.