Fact sheet: UN peace-keeping operations - includes information on US policy

US Department of State Dispatch, Sept 30, 1991

UN Military Observer Group in India

and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)

To supervise the cease-fire between India and Pakistant in Kashmir.

Established: April 21, 1948

Mandate: Indefinite

Personnel: 35

Funding: Regular budget

UN Truce Supervision Organization

(UNTSO)

To monitor the truce in Palestine and, subsequently, supervise the General Armistice Agreement of 1949 and cease-fires of 1967. Today, it cooperates with UNDOF and UNIFIL.

Established: May 29, 1948

Mandate: Indefinite

Personnel: 300

Funding: Regular budget

UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

(UNFICYP)

To supervise the cease-fire between Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus.

Established: March 4, 1964

Mandate: 6-month; expires December 15, 1991 *

Personnel: 2,150

Funding: Voluntary contributions

US payment: $9 million

UN Disengagement Observer

Force on the Golan Heights (UNDOF)

To monitor the buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights.

Established: May 31, 1974

Mandate: 6-month; expires November 30, 1991 *

Personnel: 1,300

Funding: Special peace-keeping assessments

US shares: 30.6%--$11.7 million

UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

To confirm withdrawal of Israeli troops, restore peace, and assist the Government of Lebanon to reestablish effective authority in southern Lebanon.

Established: March 19, 1978

Mandate: 6-month; expires January 31, 1992 *

Personnel: 5,850

Funding: Special peace-keeping assessments

US share: 30.6%--$46.7 million

UN Observer Group in Central America

(ONUCA)

To monitor the Esquipulas II agreement prohibiting cross-border support for rebels. Mandate expanded on March 27, 1990, to take part in the voluntary demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance.

Established: November 7, 1989

Mandate: 6-month; expires November 7, 1991 *

Personnel: 250

Funding: Special peace-keeping assessments

US share: 30.6%--$8.1 million

UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission

(UNIKOM)

To monitor a demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait and deter violations of the boundary.

Established: April 9, 1991

Mandate: Indefinite; reviewed at 6-month intervals beginning October 9, 1991

Personnel: 300 observers with support units bringing the total to 950

Funding: Special peace-keeping assessments

US share: 30.6%--$18.5 million for initial mandate period

UN Mission for the Referendum in

Western Sahara (MINURSO)

To conduct a referendum on whether Western Sahara should become independent or be integrated into Morocco.

Established: April 29, 1991

Mandate: Concludes after referendum to be held about 36 weeks after UNGA approval of its budget on May 17, 1991

Personnel: 136 personnel deployed toward a target strength of 2,700

Funding: Special peace-keeping Assessments

US share: 30.4%--$43.4 million for initial mandate period

UN Observer Mission in El Salvador

(ONUSAL)

To monitor implementation of the human rights agreement between the Government of El Salvador and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). The human rights component will be the first part of an integrated operation, which will also monitor the cease-fire and demobilization when those agreement are reached.

Established: May 20, 1991

Mandate: 12-month; expires May 20, 1992

Personnel: Target strength of 160 for human rights monitoring

Funding: Special peace-keeping assessments

US share: 30.4%--4.2 million for initial mandate period

UN Angola Verification Mission

(UNAVEM II)

To oversee implementation of the Angola Peace accords.

Established: May 30, 1991

Mandate: 17-month; expires October 30, 1992

Personnel: 250 deployed toward target strength of 700

Funding: Special peace-keeping assessments

US share: 30.4%--$15 million for initial mandate period

* Must be renewed by the UN Security Council.