description
Object description
British officer commanded 59th Independent Commando Sqdn, Royal Engineers, 3rd Commando Bde during Operation Safe Haven in Northern Iraq, 4/1991-6/1991
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations commanding 59th Independent Commando, Royal Engineers, 3rd Commando Bde during Operation Safe Haven in Northern Iraq, 4/1991-6/1991: background to deployment; condition of Kurdish refugees; role of Joint Task Forces Alpha and Bravo; initial observation of plight of Kurds; arrival of first members of his unit, 20/4/1991; presence of Iraqi troops in Zakho; landing of first supplies at Silopi, Turkey; initial dependence on American military supplies; character of US Disaster Assistance Relief Team and it's work; attempt to preserve family and tribal units in refugee camps; problem of removing Iraqi presence from Zakho; role of No 524 Specialist Team, Royal Engineers.
REEL 2 Continues: extending area of operations further into Iraq, 2/5/1991; composition of his unit at start of operation; water supply situation; move of brigade headquarters to Sirsenk Airfield; occupation of Sarsing, 6/5/1991; change in nature of operation on arrival of relief organisations; Kurd's preference for returning to their home towns; Kurd's anxiety to have Dohuk included in safe haven; his request to his superiors to change brief to equally supporting relief and military effort, 15/5/1991; establishing halfway houses for Kurds coming down from mountains.
REEL 3 Continues: comparison between Royal Engineers and US Engineers in approach to problems; acts of destruction carried out by Iraqis; start of Central Development Committee and involvement of Kurdish community leaders; basis of Kurdish self-help for establishing long term camps; Iraqi policy in border territory; danger of increasing Kurdish needs drawing Allies into long term commitment; growing tensions between military, Kurds and relief organisations; sight of Kurds returning from mountains in an assortment of vehicles; achievements of the operation; attitude of Kurds to Allied forces leaving.
REEL 4 Continues: character of brigade withdrawal, 6/1991.
