Saving Lives

Civilian populations in conflict zones are almost always subjected to the most heinous and unspeakable crimes imaginable. In most conflict zones, atrocities such as rape, slavery, torture, and mass genocide are everyday occurrences. All of Stronghold’s full-time rescue and relief staff are combat veterans — most from the special operations community such as the U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Army Ranger Regiment. When necessary, Stronghold personnel use their training and experience to protect and rescue families from unspeakable atrocities.

We do this in 3 ways:

One:

Extractions

Select individuals and families are often the direct, specific target of armed groups such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, drug cartels in South America, and socialists in Venezuela. In these particular cases, Stronghold conducts covert extractions for select individuals and families who have been targeted for persecution, imprisonment, or death.

Two:

Security Escort

VIDEO: This video shows Burma Army soldiers attempting to kill ethnic minority women and children who are fleeing the fighting. This particular event took place in an area of Burma where Stronghold works. (Credit: Ytg Poe Tha)

In every conflict, groups of civilians are displaced by the fighting and forced to run away. This may be the result of a civilian area turning into a battlefield or it may be the result of the civilian population being specifically targeted for killing. Civilian populations are at their most vulnerable when they are forced to flee. This is because groups of families with small children and the elderly are a slow, easy-to-spot target and because these civilians often become disoriented by the chaos around them. When necessary, Stronghold provides security and escort for groups of refugees until they can reach relative safety.

Three:

Creative Solutions

At Stronghold, we believe the best way to save lives from violence in conflict zones is to steer clear of the problem before it becomes a problem. We do our best to develop creative solutions to major security problems before the situation gets out of hand. One example of a creative solution we employ quite regularly is setting up early warning communications networks in areas with no communications. This enables civilians under attack to quickly communicate and coordinate with each other to avoid the coming danger and/or get help.