Displaced Persons' Problems and a Vision for Tackling them within the Framework of Planning under Pressure Methodology as a Strategic Choice

Abstract

The social service profession has been and still is one of the humanitarian professions that seeks to develop its tools, methods and approaches, in order to be able to confront the problems resulting from the occurrence of crises and disasters, with the aim of helping to restore balance in societies, while providing social services that achieve the satisfaction of its clients, as well as improving its practices. This research has adopted the methodology of planning under pressure with the displaced, as one of the modern and important approaches within the social work profession. Accordingly, this study sought to identify the problems facing the displaced that can be addressed using the pressure planning methodology, along with developing a scientific vision for applying the pressure planning methodology as a strategic choice for dealing with the problems of the displaced.

To achieve the study objectives, the researcher followed the descriptive approach through a social survey with a purposive sample and by adopting the interview guide as a tool for collecting information. After verifying its validity, it was distributed to a sample consisting of (42) individuals from the experts and specialized academics referred to in Table No. (1) to develop a scientific vision for the planning approach. The case study approach was also used, as a qualitative approach, for some official reports and documents issued by bodies and organizations concerned with displaced persons’ affairs, by relying on the content analysis tool.

The study results confirmed that the most significant social problems faced by the displaced were food insecurity, difficulty of obtaining adequate shelter, exposure to sexual harassment, and increased incidences of forced displacement. The most significant economic problems were a severe shortage of resources to meet basic living needs and limited employment opportunities. The most significant health problems were: the high incidence of malnutrition and anemia, absence of access to healthcare, human trafficking, and organ harvesting. The most significant problems related to education include low enrollment opportunities, high costs of educating children, unsuitability of the learning environment, and the reluctance of many families to send their children to school.

Taking into account that this study discusses the subject of planning methodology under pressure from a purely theoretical perspective as a subject lacking in the social service literature written in the Arabic language, this attempt gives social workers a direction to try this methodology during professional practice with clients. Also, researchers can also take the topic - or one of its components - and conduct field studies to reveal the effectiveness of applying the planning under pressure methodology with clients and organizations. This will enrich the topic theoretically, and benefit the social service profession and its practice from a practical perspective. In conclusion, the study presented a complete vision of the planning under pressure methodology in dealing with the problems of displaced persons, which constitutes a step forward towards updating intervention methodologies in the field of social services.