Military Science: JIIM-C Environment
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UNICEF (n.d.) is a crucial organization that assists war-torn and other volatile areas, particularly during the refugee crisis. According to Amnesty International (2020), the refugee crisis has precipitated the movement of hundreds of thousands of people across the world, who often face dangerous journeys and may fall victim to exploitation and human trafficking. They also face discrimination and xenophobia (Amnesty, 2020).
UNICEF provides service orientation through participating in activities such as health and provisions to refugees, children, and other vulnerable people on an international-based operational level to assist with the refugee crisis (Srinivas, 2020). For example, UNICEF works with various European states, particularly Hungary and Greece, not only to secure safe passageways but to provide assistance to children by setting up schools in these countries (UNICEF, n.d.). Moreover, according to UNICEF (2010), the organization attempts to divert individuals from detention. Detention frequently causes disaffection with state authority and social alienation, along with marginalization faced by refugees. UNICEF actively contributes to the diversion of youth from penal / detention centers to education and meaningful programs.
It is typically regarded that young people should not face marginalization, mainly if they are asylum seekers. “Child justice systems for children in conflict with the law need to foster social reintegration rather than exclusion” (UNICEF, 2010). In this sense, UNICEF supports the United States National Security Strategy by actively combating the alienation that might transform seemingly innocuous young people into extremist radicals, if they are not targeted adequately with the intervention (Sassi, 2018).
One of the critical goals of the US National Security Strategy is to effectively deal with ISIS and terrorism (White House, 2017). Since the early 2000s and 9/11 in particular, the US has sought to eliminate threats from Islamic terrorist organizations. According to the Council on Foreign Relations (2003), one of the ingredients for success for the US has been participating in a global system with allies that make the interaction more cooperative and productive. In this case, UNICEF is assisting the US in places like Syria, working together with local host nations to build education centers and develop programs for children and youth.
Relief Web (2020) notes additional provisions that were given by UNICEF, which involves psychological therapies, referrals, and individual case management. Moreover, 5,380 children who were unaccompanied accessed community care, and 24,000 children were able to receive education, both informally and formally (Relief Web, 2020). In this sense, there are essential ways in which UNICEF is helping to combat terrorism, if not directly by military actions and command forces, then through providing meaningful infrastructure that may prevent the development of extremists or Islamic radicals.
SOF operators are also be involved in these actions, at least indirectly. For instance, UNICEF’s intervention in war-torn areas in the Middle East serves to provide a bulwark against terrorism by potentially de-radicalizing young people and offering them a sense of purpose. This sounds like Foreign Humanitarian Assistance in the regard that Special Forces strengthen the region through their intervention.
There are also other ways in which this has been a significant development for the United States as it allows SOF operators to do their jobs by providing on-the-spot support for locals within war-torn regions of the world. The key here is to understand is prevention and mitigation.
References
Amnesty International. (2020). Amnesty International. Amnesty.Org. https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/refugees-asylum-seekers-and-migrants/
Council on Foreign Relations. (2003). A New National Security Strategy in an Age of Terrorists, Tyrants, and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/report/new-national-security-strategy-age-terrorists-tyrants-and-weapons-mass-destruction
Relief Web. (2020, January 30). UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe: Humanitarian Situation Report #34 (January – December 2019) – Greece. ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/greece/unicef-refugee-and-migrant-crisis-europe-humanitarian-situation-report-34-january
Sassi, M. (2018). Conceptual Frameworks for the Analysis of Food Security. In Understanding Food Insecurity (pp. 31-49). Springer, Cham.
Srinivas, H. (2020). Types of NGOs: By orientation and level of Operation. Retrieved April 26, 2020, from https://www.gdrc.org/ngo/ngo-types.html
Unicef. (n.d.). Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe – A Summary. UNICEF Canada: For Every Child. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from https://www.unicef.ca/en/refugee-and-migrant-crisis-in-europe-a-summary?ea.tracking.id=20DIAQ01OTE&19DIAQ02OTE=&gclid=Cj0KCQjws_r0BRCwARIsAMxfDRhNeWw_F8VSmxfX7VO53GDwM6v3GXNhxVp19Ad4dmuWN3f9ZPOvLMUaAumHEALw_wcB
Unicef. (2010). Government – National Security | Toolkit on Diversion and Alternatives to Detention. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/tdad/index_56372.html
White House. (2017). National Security Strategy of the United States of America. Seal of the President of the United States.