UNPROFOR

Definition: The United Nations Protection Force, UNPROFOR was a UN military body created in 1992 and sent into the former Yugoslavia to try and keep the truce between Croatia and Serbia / Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, their headquarters was set up in Sarajevo, which soon became part of a war itself. When conflict began in Bosnia-Herzegovina UNPROFOR expanded to help refugees, provide aid, secure Safe Areas and create a ‘no fly’ zone, but throughout this period the unit was hamstrung by tight controls over when it could use force, and was consequently forced into an often passive and heavily criticised role. It was replaced in 1995 by other peacekeeping forces, such as IFOR.