Building Coalitions for Humanitarian Operations Operation Provide Comfort.

摘要

Over one million Iraqi Kurds fled the military reprisals of Saddam Hussein following their uprising in northern Iraq immediately after DESERT STORM. Reports reaching the world indicated that two thousand 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 non-governmental agencies from thirteen nations. Time was critical. The coalition had to be formed quickly to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to stop the dying in the mountains. The process of developing a military coalition to support humanitarian operations is described in this individual study project. The conclusion presents key considerations in coalition building in the area of command relationships, rules of engagement and unit capabilities. Recommendations are made in response to the key considerations. Building coalitions to support humanitarian operations will continue into the 21st century and the United States must be prepared to lead in the formation of coalitions.