E-Mail Exchanges with Sir Brian Urquhart (2000): Rwanda

E-Mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart (2000): Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

E-Mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart, former Undersecretary General of the UN, with students at Marin Academy High School, 5/31/00

In a situation such as Rwanda where participants of UN agencies sent in to help the people become victims of the genocide themselves, what does the UN do? Is there a point at which they withdraw and allow a seemingly helpless situation to carry itself out without further intervention?

Sophie and Talia

The tragedy in Rwanda was that the UN and its agencies failed to intervene in time to stop the genocide. The UN and humanitarian agencies keep a very careful watch on the security of their people, and if they become convinced that the risks are all out of proportion to the effectiveness of the mission, they withdraw their people from hopeless situations. This happens quite frequently and the people are usually sent back once the situation becomes tolerable again. In recent years, civilian personnel on humanitarian missions have been killed in larger numbers than peacekeeping soldiers. This is particularly true when warlords and thugs rather than governments are involved. It a problem of very serious concern both to the UN and governments, and no one really knows the answer.