Peacekeepers are groups of soldiers, officers or civilians that go to a conflict area and try to keep warring parties apart. They do many things, for example, monitor elections, organize meetings between enemy factions or protect human rights.
UN peacekeepers are often called Blue Helmets because of their headgear. The United Nations Security Council must approve of peacekeeping missions before soldiers are sent there. Sometimes the UN gives NATO or other military organizations permission to send peacekeepers to conflict areas.
Peacekeepers are not always soldiers. Although they carry weapons they are only allowed to fight back when attacked. Normally peacekeepers are sent to conflict areas to observe a ceasefire and keep enemies apart. In the meantime diplomats can try to find a political solution in a conflict.
The first United Nations peacekeeping operation started in 1948, only three years after the UN had been founded . UN soldiers were sent to the Middle East to supervise the conflict between Israel , which had just become an independent country, and the Arab states.
In 1953 UN forces lined up on the border between North and South Korea after the Korean War where they stayed until American soldiers took over in 1967.
Not all peacekeeping is controlled by the United Nations. Mostly American soldiers have been on duty on the Sinai Peninsula since Egypt made peace with Israel in the 1970s. In the 1990s NATO sent troops to Bosnia and Kosovo with permission by the UN.
Canadian UN peacekeeper
Peacekeeping missions are not always successful . In Somalia UN peacekeepers failed to stop a civil war among the warlords of the country. They also failed in Rwanda where hundreds of thousands of people were killed.
Under the UN charter all member states are required to supply troops where necessary to help secure peace. However , mostlydeveloping countries send soldiers on UN peacekeeping missions. In the past years Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Egypt have made up most of the Blue Helmet contingent
Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945 about one million soldiers, policeman and civilians have fought for peace in varioushotspots all over the world. Peacekeeping costs a lot of money. Especially since the end of the cold war costs have gone updramatically . Missions in the Balkans and in Somalia cost the United Nations billions of dollars.
UN peacekeepers are very often in danger. They only have light equipment and often lack the weapons to keep the warring parties apart. When stationed in a crisis area for a longer period of time peacekeepers suffer from stress and develop mental problems. In many cases they are attacked by guerrillas or other groups who do not want them there.
