From Ukraine to Gaza
When the Cold War ended, the role of UN Peacekeeping changed. Initially dealing with inter-state conflict, it increasingly played a role in intra-state conflict and civil wars.
In the early days, lightly armed troops and unarmed military advisers were sent to report and build confidence in Peacekeeping measures.
United Nations Peacekeeping efforts began in 1948, when the first mission was authorized. A team was deployed to the Middle East, during the Arab-Israeli War.
Although military remained the backbone of Peacekeeping operations, a variety of complex tasks were now undertaken by Peacekeepers, including human rights monitoring, humanitarian work, administration, provision of legal expertise, civil affairs and governance, and electoral observance.
The group deployed was known as the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). It was sent to the Middle East to observe and monitor the situation in the wake of a ceasefire agreement in the Arab-Israeli War.
Peacekeeping was limited to ceasefires and stabilizing situations, by providing support to political efforts to resolve conflict by peaceful means.
Personnel were sent to create a buffer between Israeli and Egyptian forces in the Sinai. With the consent of the Egyptian government, troops patrolled the Egypt-Israel armistice demarcation line and the international frontier to the south of the Gaza Strip.
The first UN Emergency Force (UNEF) was deployed in 1956 to resolve the Suez Crisis, in the first armed Peacekeeping operation.
The Suez Canal was blocked as a result of conflict when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal Company. France and the UK protested the decision. As the UN Security Council consulted on how to implement principles for the operation of the canal, Israel launched an attack, occupying Sinai and the Gaza Strip.
The UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC) was the first large-scale mission. Launched in 1960, at its peak it consisted of 20,000 military personnel.
In 1962, UNSF was established to oversee the ceasefire between the Netherlands and Indonesia in West New Guinea. The mission was sent to ensure law and order pending the transition of New Guinea to Indonesia.
DOMREP was established in May 1965 to observe and report on breaches of the ceasefire between the two de facto authorities in the Dominican Republic. After agreement was reached on a new government, DOMREP was withdrawn.
Also in 1962, the traditional royalist regime in Yemen was overturned by republicans, and civil war developed as a result. UNYOM was established in July 1963 to observe and certify the implementation of the disengagement agreement between Saudi Arabia (who unofficially and officially supported the royalists) and the United Arab Republic (present-day Egypt, who offered diplomatic and military support to the republicans). The mandate of UNYOM ended in 1964.
Cyprus experienced a crisis in 1963, following the collapse of a power-sharing Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot government. UNFICYP was originally set up by the Security Council in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
It remains on the island to this day, to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone, and undertake humanitarian activities.
UNIPOM was established in 1965 to supervise the ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border (except in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which a separately established group oversaw), as well as the withdrawal of all armed personnel.
UNIFIL helped with the reclamation of peace and security, and assisted the Lebanese government in restoring its effective authority in the area.
UNDOF was established on May 31, 1974, by Security Council resolution 350, following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan.
It supervised the redeployment of Egyptian and Israeli forces, and manned and controlled the buffer zones established under agreements reached in 1974 and 1975.
Since then, UNDOF has remained in the area to maintain the ceasefire between the Israeli and Syrian forces and to supervise the implementation of the disengagement agreement.
The fourth Arab-Israeli War took place in 1973, initiated by Egypt and Syria. UNEF II was established in October 1973 to supervise the ceasefire between Egyptian and Israeli forces.
Following a Palestinian attack in Tel Aviv, Israel invaded south Lebanon. UNIFIL was created by the Security Council in March 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988, the Nobel Committee cited: "The Peacekeeping Forces through their efforts have made important contributions towards the realization of one of the fundamental tenets of the United Nations. Thus, the world organization has come to play a more central part in world affairs and has been invested with increasing trust."
Their purpose was to help implement complex peace agreements; stabilize the security situation; reorganize military and police; and elect new governments and build democratic institutions.
Operations were established in countries including Angola, Cambodia, El Salvador, Mozambique, and Namibia.
The number of Peacekeeping operations increased rapidly after the Cold War ended. Twenty operations were authorized between 1989 and 1994.
The organization's reputation suffered, as it was ill-equipped to deal with situations where parties failed to keep to their peace agreements and they themselves did not have adequate support.
Missions were established in places where fighting was ongoing, and there was no peace yet to keep, including in Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and Somalia.
Successful early missions had raised expectations for what the UN Peacekeeping force could achieve in the early '90s.
Following the challenges faced by Peacekeepers in the 1990s, reforms were introduced to strengthen the organization's capacity to manage and sustain field operations.
By May 2010, Peacekeeping had entered a phase of consolidation. Today, more than 110,000 military, police, and civilian staff currently serve in 12 Peacekeeping operations.
Sources: (United Nations Peacekeeping) (Better World Campaign) (Nobel Prize) (Peace Operations Training Institute)
Instantly recognizable, United Nations Peacekeeping forces and their distinctive blue helmets have become a symbol of hope to people in areas ravaged by conflict. Since 1948, more than 70 Peacekeeping operations have been undertaken involving hundreds of thousands of military personnel, tens of thousands of police, and civilians in more than 120 countries. UN Peacekeeping emerged at a time when the Cold War meant rivalries between countries paralyzed the operation of the UN Security Council. As geopolitical challenges have evolved throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the role of Peacekeepers continues to be assessed and demands dynamism.
Curious to know more? Click on to learn a brief history of UN Peacekeeping.
A brief history of UN Peacekeeping
United Nations Peacekeepers have taken part in missions across the globe
LIFESTYLE United nations
Instantly recognizable, United Nations Peacekeeping forces and their distinctive blue helmets have become a symbol of hope to people in areas ravaged by conflict. Since 1948, more than 70 Peacekeeping operations have been undertaken involving hundreds of thousands of military personnel, tens of thousands of police, and civilians in more than 120 countries. UN Peacekeeping emerged at a time when the Cold War meant rivalries between countries paralyzed the operation of the UN Security Council. As geopolitical challenges have evolved throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the role of Peacekeepers continues to be assessed and demands dynamism.
Curious to know more? Click on to learn a brief history of UN Peacekeeping.