Structural Violence among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) Within Idp Settlements in Mogadishu Somalia

Background: Gender based violence (GBV) remains a public health concern. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees have been shown to be at the highest risk of gender based violence. Somalia has been without a stable government for 26 years resulting in weak community and formal protection structures hence disproportionately increasing the vulnerability of females to gender based violence. Continued displacement of community members in South Central Somalia due to war, inters clan conflicts and the ongoing drought has resulted in more IDPs living in settlements along major urban areas. These IDPs continue to face violations such as forced evictions, discrimination and gender based violence. Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the past and present forms of structural violence faced by IDPs in Mogadishu as well as their knowledge and perceptions regarding the same. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional design was used in this study, in the month of May 2017. The study population for this survey was 320 IDPs in 10 IDP settlements in KM-11 and KM-13 regions of Mogadishu, South Central Somalia. Results: The study established a 91.7% prevalence rate of female genital mutilation among the female respondents. World Health Organization (W.H.O.) type III was the most common form of FGM that female respondents in the two IDP settlements (38.9%) had faced, followed by W.HO. type 4 (23.1%) and W.H.O. type I and II (15.9%). The mean age at which FGM was carried out among this group was 7 years while forced and early marriages (mean of 16 years) are common among this population group. Sexual assault and rape were singled out as the most common forms of violence faced by females in the two IDP settlements with the risk factors for this violence being described as displacement, overcrowding in IDP settlements, poor lighting in the IDP settlements at night, unaccompanied females in the IDP settlements and female headed households. Respondents expressed their overwhelming preference for community protection structures in averting GBV and customary law in arbitrating gender based violence cases. There was low awareness on services available for GBV survivors and so was the knowledge on the urgency to seek medical services within the 72 hours window period following rape. Conclusion: The study has established that structural violence is common among IDPs living in Mogadishu and it is constraining them from achieving the quality of life that would have otherwise been possible if they were not displaced. There is need to strengthen both community and formal protection units as well as raise awareness regarding the effects of the various forms of violence facing female IDPs, create awareness regarding services available for GBV survivors and ensure that these services are available and accessible to the IDPs

Best practice of using air-bubble curtains as part of complex fish protection structures

Приведены результаты исследований работы комплексных рыбозащитных сооружений с использованием воздушно-пузырьковых завес. Дано описание механизма работы комплексных рыбозащитных сооружений и принципа работы воздушно-пузырьковой завесы. На основе гидравлического расчета разработана методика проектирования и применения воздушно-пузырьковой завесы в составе комплексных рыбозащитных сооружений. Приведены результаты исследований по оценке функциональной эффективности построенных комплексных рыбозащитных сооружений. Комплексные рыбозащитные сооружения, имеющие в своем составе запани и воздушно-пузырьковые завесы и работающие в эрлифтном режиме, достаточно эффективно защищают молодь рыб. При правильно подобранных параметрах работы оборудования и выбранном створе размещения сооружений, с учетом гидравлических и технических особенностей водозабора, их эффективность гарантированно превышает нормативные значения. The results of studying the operation of complex fish protection structures with the use of air-bubble curtains are presented. A description of the operating mechanism of complex fish protection structures and the principle of operation of the air-bubble curtain is given. On the basis of a hydraulic calculation, a method for designing and using an air-bubble curtain as part of complex fish protection structures has been developed. The results of estimating the functional efficiency of the built complex fish protection structures are presented. The complex fish protection structures that include debris deflectors and air-bubble curtains and operate in an air-lift mode, effectively protect fish fry. Provided the operating parameters of the equipment and the selected alignment of the structures with account of the hydraulic and technical features of the water intake have been correctly chosen, their efficiency is guaranteed to exceed the standard values.

Current condition of coastal protection structures of Meulaboh, Westcoast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia

Meulaboh is coastal city that has tourism potential. The city has been facing coastal erosion hazard since a long time from high energy wave activity coming from Indian Ocean. To protect the coast from the erosion hazard, a coastal defence structures were built along the city’s coast overlooking the Indian Ocean. Before the 2004 tsunami, hard structures built on the coast that open to waves from the Indian Ocean were damaged by daily wave activity. This study assess effectiveness of the current coastal protection structures protect coastline in the three coastal segments of the city, namely the Padang Seurahet, Ujung Karang and Kampung Pasir, in order to find out if the construction of the structures is the right choice. Related to the tourism potential of Meulaboh City also studied the possibility to expand the function of the structures. The coastal protection structures data for this study were mainly obtained from field observations in June 2021. Effectiveness of the structures protecting coastline were analysed based on technical criteria. Meanwhile, possibility to expand the function of the structures were analysed according to environmental condition of the coastal segments and types of tourism activity. The results of this study show that the hard structure that now exists on Meulaboh coast can protect the city’s coast from the hazard of erosion without negatively impacting the surrounding coastline. In addition, the structure is considered to be expandable to support the development of tourism potential of Meulaboh City. Thus it can be conclude that the choice of hard structure for coastal protection in most of Meulaboh coastline is appropriate.

The role of social protection structures in the economic integration of refugees: analysis of Syrian refugees in the city of São Paulo

This paper aims to analyze the role of social protection structures in the economic integration of refugees. While most of the literature on economic integration focuses on refugee access to formal workforce, this paper explores the importance of social protection in the integration process and how it paves the way for greater economic integration. This paper investigates both formal social protection structures and informal ties within immigrant communities that help refugees obtain a basic income while they are in the process of integration. Brazil has no national program for economic integration of refugees and, in terms of social protection structures, they are recipients of the same social assistance programs that are offered to the low-income population. By looking at a conditional cash transfer program, Bolsa Família, and analyzing the access and outcomes of this program for Syrian refugees in the city of São Paulo, this paper shows the limitations of providing these programs to refugees without considering their specificities. In conclusion, for a stronger economic integration, formal structures of social protection need to be more efficient and better address refugees’ needs. In order to conduct this work, I used academic and news articles, and interviewed members from the government and civil society organizations who work with refugee integration.