Operation Provide Relief: Difference between revisions
Provide Relief was not part of UNITAF. UNITAF began December as this operation ended. PR began August 1992. So it would be part of UNOSOM I. This page needs a lot of work. |
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{{Short description|Somali famine relief}} |
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'''Operation Provide Relief''' was part of a [[United Nation]] (UN) endorsed effort called The Unified Task Force ([[UNITAF]]) to secure and facilitate humanitarian relief for the people of [[Somalia]], an effort that was assisted by the UN [[UNOSOM I]] mission beginning in 1991 in light of a severe [[famine]], initiated and exacerbated by the ongoing [[Somali civil war]]. It was initiated and spearheaded by the [[United States of America]] and other Western nations that committed troops to conduct the operation. However most of the food was looted shortly upon the landing of these planes. This made the operation a failure and the UN therefore asked its members for assistance, leading to ''[[Operation Restore Hope]]''. |
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{{Campaignbox |
{{Campaignbox United Nations Intervention in Somalia (1992-1995)}} |
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'''Operation Provide Relief''' was a [[United States]] spearheaded humanitarian relief airlift that ran from August to December 1992 in response to the [[1992 famine in Somalia|famine in Somalia]]. This effort was assisted by the [[United Nations Operation in Somalia I]] (UNOSOM I)<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep13812.9 |title=Somalia Case Study |last=Strednansky |first=Susan E. |date=1996 |publisher=Air University Press |pages=21–30}}</ref> mission, in light of a severe food crisis initiated and exacerbated by ongoing factional fighting. However, there were significant obstructions to delivering relief aid due to the security situation. This prompted the UN to pass [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 794|Resolution 794]], which paved the way for the more robust, multinational [[Operation Restore Hope|Unified Task Force]] operation in December 1992. |
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(This article regards only Operations RESTORE HOPE and PROVIDE RELIEF which were not part of the UNOSOM mission but of UNITAF, separate from UNOSOM but also under the UN aegis. As it stands, this article largely ignores the mandate and duties of UNOSOM I and UNOSOM II and opts instead for a description of US actions solely.) |
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==Background== |
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{{main|1992 famine in Somalia}} |
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[[ |
[[File:Operation Provide Relief.Rules of Engagement.jpg|thumb|Rules of Engagement for Operation Provide Relief, 1992.]] |
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In January 1991, the leader of [[Somalia]], [[Mohammed Siad Barre]], was overthrown by a coalition of opposing clans called the [[United Somalia Congress]]. After this revolution the coalition divided into two groups. One was led by [[Ali Mahdi]], who became president, and the other by [[Mohammed Farah Aidid]]. In total there were four opposing groups: the United Somali Congress (USC), [[Somali Salvation Democratic Front]] (SSDF), [[Somali Patriotic Movement]] (SPM), and [[Somali Democratic Movement]] (SDM) which continued to fight over the domination of Somalia. In June 1991 a ceasefire was agreed, which these groups however failed to hold. A fifth group; the [[Somali National Movement]] (SNM) had already in June seceded in the northwest portion of Somalia, re-naming it the [[Somaliland]] Republic, with the leader of the SNM, [[Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Ali]] as president. |
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In January 1991, President of Somalia [[Mohammed Siad Barre]], was overthrown by a coalition of rebel groups, including the [[United Somali Congress]], [[Somali Salvation Democratic Front]] (SSDF), [[Somali National Movement]] (SNM), [[Somali Patriotic Movement]] (SPM) and Somali Democratic Movement (SDM). Many of the opposition groups began competing for influence in the ensuing power vacuum. In the south, armed factions led by USC commanders General [[Mohamed Farah Aidid]] and [[Ali Mahdi Mohamed]], in particular, clashed as each sought to exert power over the capital [[Mogadishu]].<ref name="Lirs">Library Information and Research Service, ''The Middle East: Abstracts and index'', Volume 2, (Library Information and Research Service: 1999), p.327.</ref> |
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In September 1991, |
In June 1991, a ceasefire was nominally agreed upon. In September 1991, the armistice was breached as fighting broke out again between Mogadishu factions. The armed confrontations continued in the following months and spread throughout the country, with over 20,000 people killed or injured by the end of the year. |
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These battles led to the destruction of the local agricultural sector, which in turn precipitated a food crisis in large parts of Somalia. The international community in response sent emergency rations. As a consequence, an estimated 300,000 people are believed to have died of starvation between 1991 and 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://necrometrics.com/20c300k.htm#Somalia |title=Twentieth Century Atlas – Death Tolls and Casualty Statistics for Wars, Dictatorships and Genocides |publisher=Users.erols.com |access-date=2011-04-20}}</ref> In July 1992, after a ceasefire between the opposing southern-based clan factions, the United Nations sent 50 military observers to supervise the food supply distributions. |
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These wars led to the destruction of the [[Economy of Somalia|agriculture of Somalia]] which in turn led to starvation in large parts of Somalia. |
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The [[international community]] began to send [[food]] supplies to halt the [[starvation]]. However vast amounts of food were hijacked and brought to local [[clan]] leaders. The food was routinely exchanged with other countries for weapons by them. An estimated 80% of the food was stolen. |
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These factors led to even more starvation of which an estimated 300,000 people died and another 1.5 million suffering between 1991 and 1992. |
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In July 1992, after a ceasefire between the opposing clan factions, the [[United Nations]] (UN) sent 50 military observers to hold sight on the distribution of the food. |
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==Humanitarian operation== |
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''Operation Provide Relief'' in began in August 1992, when the [[White House]] announced US military transports would support the multinational UN relief effort in Somalia. Ten [[C-130]]s and 400 people deployed to [[Mombasa]], [[Kenya]], during ''Operation Provide Relief'', airlifting aid to remote areas in Somalia to reduce reliance on truck convoys. One member of the 86th Supply Squadron deployed with the ground support contingent, [[USAFE]]'s only contribution to the operation. The Air Force C-130s delivered 48,000 tons of food and medical supplies in six months to international humanitarian organizations, trying to help the over three million starving people in the country. When this proved inadequate to stop the massive death and displacement of Somali people (500,000 dead; 1.5 million refugees or displaced), the U.S. in December 1992 launched a major coalition operation, ''[[Operation Restore Hope]]'' to assist and protect humanitarian activities. |
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[[File:Air Force Reserve C-130s during Operation Provide Relief-Restore Hope.jpg|thumb|Eighteen U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130s flew 20 missions per day from Moi International Airport (Mombasa Airport) to Somalia for Operation Provide Relief.]] |
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Operation Provide Relief began in August 1992, when the [[White House]] announced US military transports would support the multinational UN relief effort in Somalia. Ten [[C-130]]s and 400 people deployed to the [[Moi International Airport]] during Operation Provide Relief, airlifting aid to remote areas in Somalia to reduce reliance on truck convoys. |
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The Air Force C-130s delivered 48,000 tons of food and medical supplies in six months to international humanitarian organizations. When this proved inadequate to stop the massive death and displacement, the [[United Nations Security Council]] passed [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 794|Resolution 794]] on 3rd December 1992, a major peacekeeping mission which authorized the use of all necessary means to assure a protected environment for conducting humanitarian operations.<ref>United Nations, Security Council resolution 794 (1992), 24 April 1992, para. 3</ref> Concurrently, the U.S. launched [[Operation Restore Hope]], a major coalition operation led by the United Task Force (UNITAF) to assist and protect relief activities. The US provided approximately 25,000 of the 37,000 troops provided.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN SOMALIA II (UNOSOM II) - Background (Summary)|url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/past/unosom2backgr1.html|access-date=2021-09-16|website=peacekeeping.un.org}}</ref> |
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That operation was eventually successful in stopping the famine and saving an estimated 200,000 lives, as well as de-escalating the high-intensity civil war into low-level, local skirmishes, but after a long and protracted effort and eventual pull-out of US forces following the [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]]. The operation has been criticized for expanding beyond its original boundaries ("[[mission creep]]"). The Refugee Policy Group (NGO in Washington) in November 1994 "Lives Lost, Lives Saved: Excess Mortality and the Impact of Health Interventions in the Somalia Emergency" believes that any assessment of the success of Operation Provide Relief is "so fraught with methodological problems that it is rarely attempted." As such, they offer a conservative estimate that about 100,000 lives were saved as a result of outside assistance, about 10,000 after the United States as part of Operation Provide Relief. They also conclude that some 202,000 to 238,000 lives were lost to famine or famine related disease. |
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After a long and protracted effort, the operation was eventually successful in saving many lives, as well as in de-escalating the high-intensity conflict into low-level, local skirmishes. However, the initiative has been criticized for expanding beyond its original boundaries ("[[mission creep]]"). The Washington-based Refugee Policy Group NGO in November 1994 suggests that any assessment of the success of Operation Provide Relief is "so fraught with methodological problems that it is rarely attempted." As such, it asserts that excess mortality had already peaked by the time that the first relief programs in and flights to southern Somalia were set up. The think tank offers a conservative estimate that about 100,000 lives were saved as a result of international assistance, 10,000 of which occurred after U.S. troops arrived in December 1992.<ref name="Trth">{{cite book|last=Maren|first=Michael|title=The Road to Hell|year=2009|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1439188415|page=214|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c7yXjjdx53QC}}</ref> |
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* [[Operation Deliverance]], the concurrent [[Canada|Canadian]] mission |
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{{Unreferenced|date=January 2007}} |
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*[[Operation Deliverance]] |
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*[[2011 East Africa drought]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
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*Allard, Colonel Kenneth, ''Somalia Operations: Lessons Learned'', [[National Defense University Press]] (1995) |
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[[Category:Somalia–United States relations]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:32, 22 September 2023
Operation Provide Relief was a United States spearheaded humanitarian relief airlift that ran from August to December 1992 in response to the famine in Somalia. This effort was assisted by the United Nations Operation in Somalia I (UNOSOM I)[1] mission, in light of a severe food crisis initiated and exacerbated by ongoing factional fighting. However, there were significant obstructions to delivering relief aid due to the security situation. This prompted the UN to pass Resolution 794, which paved the way for the more robust, multinational Unified Task Force operation in December 1992.
Background
[edit]
In January 1991, President of Somalia Mohammed Siad Barre, was overthrown by a coalition of rebel groups, including the United Somali Congress, Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), Somali National Movement (SNM), Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM) and Somali Democratic Movement (SDM). Many of the opposition groups began competing for influence in the ensuing power vacuum. In the south, armed factions led by USC commanders General Mohamed Farah Aidid and Ali Mahdi Mohamed, in particular, clashed as each sought to exert power over the capital Mogadishu.[2]
In June 1991, a ceasefire was nominally agreed upon. In September 1991, the armistice was breached as fighting broke out again between Mogadishu factions. The armed confrontations continued in the following months and spread throughout the country, with over 20,000 people killed or injured by the end of the year.
These battles led to the destruction of the local agricultural sector, which in turn precipitated a food crisis in large parts of Somalia. The international community in response sent emergency rations. As a consequence, an estimated 300,000 people are believed to have died of starvation between 1991 and 1992.[3] In July 1992, after a ceasefire between the opposing southern-based clan factions, the United Nations sent 50 military observers to supervise the food supply distributions.
Humanitarian operation
[edit]
Operation Provide Relief began in August 1992, when the White House announced US military transports would support the multinational UN relief effort in Somalia. Ten C-130s and 400 people deployed to the Moi International Airport during Operation Provide Relief, airlifting aid to remote areas in Somalia to reduce reliance on truck convoys.
The Air Force C-130s delivered 48,000 tons of food and medical supplies in six months to international humanitarian organizations. When this proved inadequate to stop the massive death and displacement, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 794 on 3rd December 1992, a major peacekeeping mission which authorized the use of all necessary means to assure a protected environment for conducting humanitarian operations.[4] Concurrently, the U.S. launched Operation Restore Hope, a major coalition operation led by the United Task Force (UNITAF) to assist and protect relief activities. The US provided approximately 25,000 of the 37,000 troops provided.[5]
After a long and protracted effort, the operation was eventually successful in saving many lives, as well as in de-escalating the high-intensity conflict into low-level, local skirmishes. However, the initiative has been criticized for expanding beyond its original boundaries ("mission creep"). The Washington-based Refugee Policy Group NGO in November 1994 suggests that any assessment of the success of Operation Provide Relief is "so fraught with methodological problems that it is rarely attempted." As such, it asserts that excess mortality had already peaked by the time that the first relief programs in and flights to southern Somalia were set up. The think tank offers a conservative estimate that about 100,000 lives were saved as a result of international assistance, 10,000 of which occurred after U.S. troops arrived in December 1992.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Strednansky, Susan E. (1996). Somalia Case Study (Report). Air University Press. pp. 21–30.
- ^ Library Information and Research Service, The Middle East: Abstracts and index, Volume 2, (Library Information and Research Service: 1999), p.327.
- ^ "Twentieth Century Atlas – Death Tolls and Casualty Statistics for Wars, Dictatorships and Genocides". Users.erols.com. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- ^ United Nations, Security Council resolution 794 (1992), 24 April 1992, para. 3
- ^ "UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN SOMALIA II (UNOSOM II) - Background (Summary)". peacekeeping.un.org. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
- ^ Maren, Michael (2009). The Road to Hell. Simon and Schuster. p. 214. ISBN 978-1439188415.
Further reading
[edit]- Allard, Colonel Kenneth, Somalia Operations: Lessons Learned, National Defense University Press (1995)