UNPROFOR was established in Feb 1992 as an interim arrangement to create the conditions of peace and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the Yugoslavian crisis. The role of the UN troops was to ensure that areas designated as "UN Protected Areas" (UNPA) became and remained demilitarized and that all persons residing in these areas were protected from fear of armed attack. The role of UN police monitors was to ensure that local police forces carried out their duties without discriminating against persons of any nationality or abusing any human rights. The force also assisted the humanitarian agencies of the UN in the return of all displaced persons who so desired.

There were several extensions of the original UNPROFOR covering the following purposes: reopening of the Sarajevo airport for humanitarian purposes; establishing a security zone encompassing Sarajevo and its airport; protection of convoys of released detainees in Bosnia and Herzegovina as requested by the International Committee of the Red Cross; monitoring arrangements for the complete withdrawal of the Yugoslavian Army from Croatia; the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula and the removal of heavy weapons from neighbouring areas of Croatia and Montenegro (Res 779,1992); monitoring compliance with the ban on military flights (Res 781,1992); and the establishment of the United Nations presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

UNPROFOR also monitored the implementation of a cease-fire agreement requested by the Bosnian Government and Bosnian-Croat Forces in Feb 1994. In addition, UNPROFOR monitored cease-fire arrangements, negotiated between the Bosnian Government and Bosnian Serb forces, which became effective on 1 Jan 1995.

On 31 Mar 1995, the Security Council decided to restructure UNPROFOR, replacing it with three separate but interrelated peacekeeping operations: UNCRO (United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia), UNPREDEP (United Nations Preventive Deployment Force) under the joint theatre headquarters known as UNPF (United Nations Peace Forces) located in Zagreb. Eventually, following positive developments in the former Yugoslavia and the establishment of two new United Nations Missions in Bosnia -Herzegovina and Croatia, UNPF-HQ was phased out in Jan 1996.

Canadian Military Involvement

Approximately 860 Canadian Forces personnel deployed to the Balkans with UNPROFOR in the spring of 1992 as Operation HARMONY, followed by a second deployment of 800 in Sep of that year. For three years, from the fall of 1992 to the fall of 1995 there were approximately 1,600 Canadians in the Balkans at any one time, as part of UNPROFOR, the United Nations Peace Forces Headquarters (UNPF-HQ) and (briefly) UNCRO.

Brigadier General Lewis MacKenzie served with UNPROFOR as Chief of Staff from February 1992 to April 1992, when he was promoted Major-General; and from May 1992 to Aug 1992 as Commander, Sector Sarajevo. Canada also provided the Deputy Theatre Commander, UNPROFOR, from Sep 1992 to 31 Mar 1995, and the Deputy Theatre Commander, UNPF from Apr 1995 to Jan 1996.

Units deployed included battalions of the three Regular Force infantry regiments as well as armoured and engineer regiments.

Royal 22e Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Various Military Observers and RCMP
Armoured and engineer regiments

Insignia

Ninety days service with the mission from 1 Mar 1992 to 19 Dec 1995 entitled a Canadian serviceman to the UNPROFOR Medal. The ribbon consisted of 9 stripes: UN blue (2.5mm), light green (5mm), UN blue (3mm), white (1mm), red centre (8mm), white (1mm), UN blue (3mm), dark brown (5mm), and UN blue (2.5mm).

Awards to Canadians included:

1,200 in 1992
2,222 in 1993, not including 225 RCMP awards to end of 1993.
Total in 1994-95 unknown.

Members who served with Operation SHARP GUARD in the Adriatic Sea, and AWACS crews based out of Germany during Operation DENY FLIGHT counted their service towards the NATO medal for the Former Yugoslavia instead.

Fatalities

Ten soldiers died during their service with UNPROFOR.

Corporal Bechard J.M.H.
Private Cooper K.D.
Captain Decoste J.P.
Corporal Galvin D.J.P.
Sergeant Gareau D.
Corporal Gunther D.
Master Corporal Isfeld M.R.
Master Corporal Langevin S.L.P
Sergeant Ralph C.M.
Corporal Rousseau J.

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