1. E-Portfolio Assignment
By Kevin Salinas
A refugee camp in Somalia seems unrealistic. The country has had an
unstable government for quite some time and is experiencing extreme
conditions of crime and famine. The overall economy of Somalia is ranked
one of the poorest and least developed in the world. The vast majority of
people living in Somalia are seeking life outside their country for many
reasons such as security, safety, and shelter. All hope that their life will
change for the better. With the increase of Somali people migrating to
refugee camps, many locations have became extremely overcrowded and
have not been managed properly. The country is experiencing a crisis and
the resources that are needed to sustain the population are unbalanced.
My Proposal for a New Refugee Camp: Northern Somalia (Camp Paul Knox)
It would make sense to build a refugee camp in Somalia for its own
population but without having a supportive government, the situation seems
nearly impossible. Safety would be a main concern for a refugee camp in
Somalia, but if the US military was able to intervene and support the cause
then anything would be possible. Under the assumption that Somalia
receives US aid, I began to look and do some research for the perfect
location to build a refugee camp. I also kept in mind that life would be
constructed around this particular environment.
An ideal refugee camp for the Somali population should be located near the
Indian Ocean or Gulf of Aden to have immediate access to water. Having
access to water is also a food source and having access to a source of water
will also help with the cultivation of a solid agriculture. A location in Northern
Somalia would be just right for Camp Paul Knox.

2. To begin the construction for a refugee camp you will need laborers and
some volunteers to transport equipment to the location. The quantity of
supplies and services that will be needed will depend on the size of the
population. With a large population occupying the northern tip of Somalia in
a refugee camp you can imagine the need for an increased number of
personnel for the gathering and supplying of food for the population.
Occupations in fishery and agriculture are the sources that will feed the
people. Roads and transportation are extremely vital for acquiring the
necessary supplies and services. A designated committee or group will be
essential in distributing and supplying resources evenly. The assigned
committee will also be in charge of calculating the needs and direction of the
camp population.
A living environment will need to be created with large tents and sleeping
bags. Food, water, and shelter are the obvious requirements. It is important
that in the construction of any refugee camp, that all is aware of the possible
contingencies that may arise such as the changes in weather and the
possible increase in population.
A team of personnel is important to manage a large group of people.
Education will be the key to any future success of a refugee camp so it’s
important that the people are constantly learning to improve their situation.
Teachers and skilled workers will be the foundation for others to learn from.
Red dot is Camp Paul Knox.

3. The freedom of religion will give each person their right to believe and
worship as they please. Every person in a refugee camp has left behind
belongings, family, and a past life they will perhaps never live again. The
importance of religion during these difficult times means everything to those
who have absolutely nothing or have lost all they had.
The ideal refugee camp will make people feel comfortable because ultimately
this is their new home. Having social events, meetings, and being able to
talk amongst one another will help people feel at ease and help with
emotion. It’s not easy to be optimistic when you are in a situation like this
but having a mentor or positive person to talk to can change a negative
outlook on life. There’s always hope.
80% of all displaced persons are women and children because they have no
help. Most single women have had a division with family or a separation
from their spouse. As a result women are often forced toward unhealthy or
inhospitable environments. Much of the internally displaced person women
also experience profound psychosocial distress. It’s possible that displaced
persons lack the necessary identity in order to receive benefits or legal
citizenship. Children unfortunately are the innocent victims and are unable to
have a stable environment. Women also run a risk of being raped and
victimized because they are vulnerable. (As a human we are never safe
anywhere). A woman has to be strong for herself and if she has children,
then for her family. The elderly are sometimes victims to horrible crimes. It’s
important to keep a positive surrounding and report inappropriate behavior
to the necessary personnel.
We can all learn from difficult situations. The people of refugee camps are
humans and many that are without the necessities happen to be children. If
financially anyone can contribute then people really should. A little bit of
help can go a very long way for people that are living in poverty. Volunteer
work for those who can’t help financially is just as important. Many elderly
people need help physically because they are unable. It’s important to give a
helping hand because there are many unfortunate people in need.