UNOSOM+UNITAF

• UNISOM

  • March 1992: talks at UN headquarters in Geneva led to a ceasefire in Somalia.
  • April 1992: The Security Council agreed to a multinational peacekeeping mission in Somalia known as UNOSOM.
  • September 1992: 500 UN peacekeepers arrive - little impact

  Warlords did not agree to the UN's being in Somalia, and the looting + violence continued.
• Aims of UNISOM

  Monitor ceasefire in Mogadishu (SW Somalia)

  Protect UN personnel, equipment and supplies

  • Escort supplies where needed
• UNITAF

  • Due to weakness of UNOSOM, and the crisis in Somalia worsening, the Security council agreed to sending a new Unified Task Force (UNITAF)
  • Purpose was to create safe conditions for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
• UNITAF

  Made up of 25,400 US troops + 12,900 troops from member states.

  Arrived in January 1993.

  • Other UN organisations at work in Somalia at the time included FAO, UNICEF, UNHCR and WHO.

  The Red Cross was one of the many other groups helping relief efforts.