UN peace-keeping around the world.

• Position: Brief synopses - United Nations developments - Illustration

UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)

Established: April 1991

Strength: 320 military personnel and 188 civilian staff

Mandate: To monitor the 40-kilometre-long Khor Abdullah Waterway and the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two countries, using observation posts and land and air patrols, to deter boundary violations and to observe any hostile or potentially hostile actions. In February 1993, the Security Council transformed UNIKOM from an observer contingent into an armed force capable of preventing small-scale violations of the DMZ, authorizing an increase in personnel to some 3,600.

UN Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)

Established: July 1991

Strength: 380 military and police personnel, 250 civilian staff.

Mandate: To verify implementation of agreements between El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN). These concern: maintaining the cease-fire, reform and reduction of armed forces, creation of a new police force, reform of the judicial and electoral systems, human rights, land tenure and other economic and social issues. Some 900 electoral observers are to assist in the scheduled March 1994 elections.

UN Mission for the Referendum in

Western Sahara (MINURSO)

Established: September 1991

Strength: 225 military observers, 100 military support personnel and 103 civilian staff

Mandate: Originally to monitor a cease-fire, verify reduction of Moroccan troops in the Territory, monitor confinement of troops to designated locations, ensure the release of all Western Saharan political prisoners or detainees, oversee the exchange of prisoners of war, implement the repatriation programme, identify and register qualified voters, organize and ensure a free referendum and proclaim the results. Due to divergent views, the plan has not been fully implemented.

UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR)

Established: February 1992

Strength: 24,000 military and civilian personnel: 14,000 in Croatia, 9,200 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 750 in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Mandate: Croatia: Established in March 1992 as an interim arrangement to create conditions of peace and security required for negotiating an overall settlement. Deployed in three "United Nations Protected Areas" (UNPAs) in Croatia, to ensure a demilitarization process.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: In June 1992, UNPROFOR was enlarged to ensure the security and functioning of the Sarajevo airport and delivery of humanitarian assistance. in...