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milnews.ca said:.... unless it still is peacekeeping:
Too true; those blue beret tours (and the orange one) we are participating in didn't stop over the past 12 years --- they just haven't got the press.
milnews.ca said:.... unless it still is peacekeeping:
On 21 June, a platoon of 34 personnel from the Canadian Army left for Haiti as part of Operation HAMLET– Canada’s military contribution to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, commonly known by its French name as MINUSTAH.
But first they made a slight detour to Brazil – one of the largest contributors to the mission and an important ally to both Haiti and Canada. Here they were trained by the Brazilian Armed Forces and integrated into a Brazilian Battalion (BRABAT).
While Canadians have been a part of MINUSTAH since it began in May 2004, this has normally taken the form of five senior staff officers providing aid to the headquarters in regards to planning and coordinating operations. The arrival of the platoon from 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade group, originating from Valcartier, Que, means Canada is now able to make tactical contributions as well.
Within this new role CAF members deployed on the Brazilian battalion will help ensure security and stability in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the Western Hemisphere.
Their primary task is to conduct patrols of their area of responsibility. But they also undertake guard duty for their camp and other points of interest, as well as conduct Civic-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) projects, such as the provision of clean water in neighbourhoods vulnerable to cholera ....
Canada to takeover Haiti peacekeeping: media
Montreal (AFP) - Canada is planning to take over command of the UN stabilization mission in Haiti and replace the bulk of troops on the ground from Brazil with its own, according to a report Wednesday.
During a visit to Ottawa by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signaled his willingness to renew Canada's engagement on the world stage, including increasing its participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
There are currently 36 Canadian soldiers deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti, Jerusalem, South Sudan, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Korea, down from a reported 3,000 at its peak in 1993.
French speakers in the Canadian military, Trudeau said in February, are in demand in hotspots in some former French or Belgian colonies, including Haiti and the Central African Republic.
In addition to expressing a desire for a seat on the Security Council, the prime minister said he wanted Canada to play a larger role in preventing and mediating global conflicts, as well as post-war reconstruction.
According to the daily Le Devoir, Canada wants to send 1,000 to 2,000 police officers and soldiers to Haiti to shore up security in the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, and take over command of the UN mission from Brazil after its mission mandate expires in October.
Canadian officials were not immediately available to comment.
The UN mission, MINUSTAH, was launched in April 2004 following the departure into exile of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The force was bolstered after the powerful January 2010 earthquake that toppled buildings across the country and killed tens of thousands of people.
There are currently 2,370 soldiers, 2,600 police officers, and 1,500 civilian officials on the ground in Haiti, both domestic and foreign, including five Canadian soldiers and 90 police officers.
Haiti has long been a priority destination for Canadian humanitarian aid. More than half a billion dollars (Canadian) has been committed for reconstruction and development of Haiti over the past decade, according to government figures.
There is also a large Haitian diaspora living in Canada.
Fortunately we're still driving some of the same vehicles, though.Jarnhamar said:But sine the Liberals are chopping 400 million we're going to have to ask all the Bosnian and Cyprus vets to borrow their old blue berets and hats.
These are likely the type of things we would do... especially if it allows our government to pat itself on the back as being an awesome UN citizen.Leeworthy said:I'm just not sure what we can do for them in long-term? Help them clean up their country, build sanitation facilities, improve their building practices? Would that be the type of things we would do long-term for a country such as this?
Rifleman62 said:Keep the military occupied/committed to a large UN msn = Canada is fully committed to peace and does not have the resources to assist in any combat role, anywhere.
Recognizing the “major milestone” Haiti has achieved toward stabilization following recent elections, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations mission in the island nation for a final six-month period and authorized a smaller successor peacekeeping mission.
Unanimously adopting a new resolution, the Council decided that, after over 13 years operating in its current form, the UN Stabilization Mission, known by its French acronym, MINUSTAH, would gradually draw down its military component during the next six months, finally withdrawing from Haiti by 15 October 2017.
Acting on the recommendations of the Secretary-General, the Council also decided to establish a successor operation, the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), which would be mandated to assist the Haitian Government to strengthen rule of law institutions; further support and develop the National Police; and engage in human rights monitoring, reporting, and analysis.
Further to the resolution, MINUJUSTH would be composed of up to seven Formed Police Units – or 980 FPU personnel – and 295 Individual Police Officers for an initial period of six months from 16 October 2017 until 15 April 2018, and emphasized the importance of reaching those levels. The current Mission has just over 1,000 individual police and 11 police units.
The new Mission was also authorized to “protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, as needed.” ...