Special German Fund for Peace-Keeping Operations
Germany has been giving substantial support to peace-keeping operations by contribu ting troops and military equipment. In addition to this a special fund within the Federal Budget has been established recently under the direct responsibility of the relevant division in the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The idea of this special funding instrument, which was implemented for the first time in 1995, is to provide support for United Nations peace-keeping operations through the deployment of civilian contingents, the provision of material and through the funding of specific needs of peace-keeping operations.
In coordination with the United Nations, Germany has provided within the last months:
- 5 specialists for mine clearing operations in Angola; 45 mine detectors and protective aprons for mine clearing operations. After the termination of the operation, this material will remain property of the UN to be used in future operations.
- A civilian medical component for UNIKOM in cooperation with the German NGO Malteser Hilfsdienst
- Within the framework of establishing a central medical depot for UN-peace- keeping operations in Norway, Germany has offered to provide the initial supply of medicine and other medical goods (market value of approx. DM 10 million).
- Leasing and operational costs for 1 helicopter to drastically improve the indis pensable air mobility of UNMOT.
- In addition Germany has contributed funds to the Seminar on Somalia of the newly established lessons-learned-unit within DPKO.
The highly expedient use of this special fund constitutes an important step for improving efficiency as well as effectiveness of UN peace-keeping operations and is aimed at strengthening the civilian component of peace-keeping operations.
