The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to emerge after several days in which the Kremlin army has intensified its offensive. The bombing of cities like Kiev or Kharkov have left dozens of civilians killed and a picture that has not been seen in the Old Continent for a long time.
The intensification of the Russian military power and the Ukrainian resistance have led to agreeing a ceasefire in some cities so that the evacuation of civilians through humanitarian corridors can take place. According to French President Macron: “The worst is yet to come”. Therefore, Zelensky requires the intervention of international organizations such as the UN. An organization that has peacekeepers known worldwide as ‘the blue helmets’.
What are the UN blue helmets?
The blue helmets are a military force belonging to the United Nations (UN) made up of personnel from numerous professional armies around the world who work for peace. This special organization also includes the participation of civilians who collaborate to protect the population that may be affected by a conflict.
The military deployment of the UN as an organization began in 1948 with the aim of promoting peace throughout the world. However, it was not until 1956 that the UN Emergency Force, a military section characterized by wearing blue armbands and patches to mark their neutrality as a soldier. A few years after the establishment of the UNEF and in order to give soldiers more visibility on the battlefield, the famous blue helmets who today carries this special force.
What is their function and when do they intervene?
As the UN argues in its bases, the main objective of the blue helmets lies in the protection of civilians against threats of any kind in order to facilitate a safe environment. In other words, this type of military section has a duty to support the most vulnerable in humanitarian catastrophes such as wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, famines… For this reason, more and more voices are being raised in favor of the action of this special peacekeeping force in the Ukraine conflict.
Among other things, the blue helmets can also attend to tasks of surveillance in electoral processes, offer security after conflicts, monitor the borders of two countries with tensions or establish hospitals and refugee camps for humanitarian work. It is a peace-facilitating organization made up of more than 40,000 soldiers who do not they can only intervene with the consent of the countries in conflict.
Another of the most outstanding points for which this type of organization was created lies in monitor compliance with the ‘ceasefire’. A situation that Russia and Ukraine have currently agreed on in some cities and that could need the help of the blue helmets.
The missions of the blue helmets and the Spanish presence in Bosnia
The first time that acted the UN special force was in 1956 during the Suez crisis. On this occasion, they supported the French and Israeli troops on one side and the Egyptians on the other. Currently, this organization has a presence in many regions of the world, among which the Cyprus, Cambodia, Lebanon, Sudan or Palestine. In addition, in most of these destinations there is the presence of Spanish soldiers and volunteers.
It should be noted that one of the actions of the blue helmets that the international community most appreciates is a complex peace mission during the Bosnian conflict between 1992 and 1995. On this occasion, the presence of Spanish soldiers (more than 46,000) was crucial in preventing the massacres of civilians that were taking place in the Balkans. Thus, the blue helmets managed to turn the situation around laying the foundations of what is known today as Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the arbitrary action of the UN, the armies of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), which have greater power of action, entered the Balkan country.
From AS.com we speak with David Moreno Mendo, former Corporal Specialist of the Army of the Brigade Córdoba 10, who arrived in Bosnia in 1998 in the four-month missions launched by UNPROFOR from Spain. “We were going to mediate and help in the distribution of food”, David tells us assuring us that his mission consisted of “establishing a little order without opting for any side. After all, we acted as arbitrators in the conflict.”
Among his many interesting reflections, some difficult to digest, he highlights that he used to offer money out of his pocket to the civilian population and they answered him with the word ‘mangiare’, refusing tickets to ask for food. “What you see there is very hard. They are things that are not forgotten, but I am proud to have contributed to humanitarian work.”
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