July 2024 Forage Center Coastal Promise Humanitarian Simulation, Swanton, MD
The Forage Center(Forage Center) for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education, Inc. held its annual Coastal Promise Humanitarian Simulation July12-14,2024, in Swanton, Maryland. This was the fourth field exercise the Forage Center has held in Garrett County. The overall objective of the simulation was to prepare students for careers in humanitarian response and peacebuilding.
The event reenacted conditions of a humanitarian crisis created by the convergence of a natural disaster and internal conflict. The exercise included nearly 40 role players and students. Graduate student participants in the exercise came from U.S. institutions including George Mason University, University of North Carolina/Greensboro, University of North Carolina/Wilmington, and Stockton University. In addition to the student participants, role players in the exercise came from Forage Center staff, program alumni, and students from Allegany College of Maryland. Several role players volunteered from the local Garrett County community.
“This year’s exercise was a huge success. The varied background of the students and staff gave us a chance to tap into diverse perspectives and creative solutions, hopefully paving the way for more humanitarians,” said this year’s co-Exercise Director Heather Payne.
The need for well-trained professionals working in humanitarian response has never been greater. The United Nations reported that 114 million individuals were forcibly displaced due to war, conflict, and natural disasters at the end of 2023, which is expected to rise to 140 million in 2024. These numbers continue to grow because of conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and other parts of the world. In addition, many are fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries and continue to seek entry to the U.S., resulting in a humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. And everywhere, climate change has brought about natural disasters resulting in the need to see to the needs of those displaced.
The Forage Center wishes to extend its appreciation to the many Garrett County individuals and businesses that supported our effort including Stop ‘n Save, Brenda’s Pizzeria, Lowe’s, Mankamyer Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, Simon Pearce, Moonshadow Restaurant and Bar, and St. John’s Lutheran Church Meadow Mountain.
