Building Coalitions for Humanitarian Operations -- Operation Provide Comfort
Abstract
Over one million Iraqi Kurds fled the military reprisals of Saddam Hussein following their uprising in northern Iraq immediately after Operation Desert Storm. Reports reaching the world indicated that 2,000 Kurds died each day in the harsh cold mountains along the Turkish-Iraqi border. On 5 April 1991, in cooperation with other allied nations, President Bush ordered American military forces to begin airlifting humanitarian supplies to the Kurdish refugees. This Presidential decision established the largest military coalition ever formed in support of humanitarian operations. "Operation Provide Comfort" was the code name used for the worldwide outpouring of humanitarian assistance provided to the Kurdish displaced persons. The coalition formed to support this operation consisted of Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, governmental, and nongovernmental agencies from 13 nations. Time was critical. The coalition had to be formed quickly to provide the humanitarian assistance needed to stop Kurds from dying in the mountains. The process of developing a military coalition to support humanitarian operations is described in this paper. The author discusses key considerations in coalition-building in the areas of command relationships, rules of engagement, and unit capabilities. He then presents recommendations in response to these considerations. Coalitions to support humanitarian operations will be needed into the 21st century, and the United States must be prepared to lead in their formation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA251202
Entities
People
- Donald G. Goff
Organizations
- United States Army War College