Heavy lifting for UN peacekeeping: Strategic Deployment Stocks.

• Author: Brazier, David
• Position: United Nations

MEETING THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE

When the decision has been taken to initiate a peacekeeping mission, the required lead-time for deployment varies, depending on the willingness of Member States to contribute troops, equipment, and other financial and material resources in a timely fashion. Previous UN deployments have shown the paramount need for an accessible, standalone materiel reserve which could be rapidly dispatched anywhere, thereby facilitating the rationale to create the Strategic Deployment Stocks (SDS).

Attempting to meet the logistical demands of current and future missions has been a challenging task. Peacekeeping missions are often in areas blighted by conflict and lack adequate connectivity such as road, rail, air and port facilities. UN personnel have to work efficiently and for long hours in often arduous climatic conditions.

The peacekeeping activities of the United Nations constitute a vast undertaking. Currently, there are 91,049 peacekeepers deployed in 16 missions across the world. (2) The areas in which these military and civilian personnel are deployed range from post-conflict zones experiencing reconstruction activity, to areas in which conflict is a present danger and where there is no agreed peace to keep.

Given these differing geographical and security factors, enabling effective missions and their rapid and responsive sustainment is key to mission success. A responsive logistics chain is thus central to UN peacekeeping requirements and SDS is a key part of this logistics capability, serving as the cornerstone for the establishment, build up and consolidation of new UN missions. It has adapted to changing situations moving stocks to where they are required.

SDS ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION

SDS then, as now, provides a readily available stockpile of materiel to sustain a mission's initial operating capability. SDS comprises all items of equipment that are needed and used by missions for their startup and sustainment. Equipment ranges from vehicles, fork lift trucks, ambulances, prefabricated buildings, generators, water purification units, stationary and supplies, information technology equipment, office furniture, personal protection gear, satellites, detergents and cleaning equipment; in short, everything imaginable to launch operations in a new country ravaged by war or natural disaster.

The type and numbers of SDS are reviewed annually and materiel is added to take account of changes in contracts, best value for...