Number 1 February 2010

Dear readers, democratic on 12 January at 16:53 hours local and successful time, a major earthquake law measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale enforcement struck a highly populated area of force. Haiti and also affected populations in the south-west of the country In these busy damaging the capital Port-au- times I gave Prince and other area in the West an interview to Province which has an estimated the editorial team where I population of 2.2 million. It is elaborate more on the tasks and estimated that more than 150.000 challenges that we face at this persons lost their lives and moment. You can also read details material damage is enormous. of the new Security Council resolution - 1908 by which The earthquake has caused the MINUSTAH was strengthened with single greatest loss of life in the additional personnel. UN’s history. The Christopher Hotel, which housed our Female UNPols had a dynamic headquarters in Haiti, collapsed, workshop on Gender specific while other buildings hosting the issues under these extraordinary UN suffered extensive damage. circumstances and we report on it. And you can also find interesting In this new edition of MINUSTAH tips on stress management and Police Express we would like to read about the work of the Staff pay special tribute to all our Counseling Unit. colleagues who lost their lives during the devastating Enjoy your reading! earthquake. Eighteen of them sacrificed themselves while Sincerely yours, assisting their Haitian Gerardo CHAUMONT counterparts in developing a Police Commissioner

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Interview Secure environment for the renewal The new commissioner of the United Nations Police (UNPol) of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is Major General Gerardo Christian CHAUMONT.

General Chaumont assumed his duties in Port-au-Prince just days after a huge earthquake hit the Island on 12 January 2010. Before arriving in Haiti General Chaumont was the chief of UNPol in the United Nations Mission to Central African Republic Express: Sir, you took command of and Chad (MINURCAT). Serving MINUSTAH UNPol at one of the most under the blue UN flag he was also difficult moments in the history of this chief UNPol in the United Nations Mission and of the peacekeeping in Mission to Ivory Coast (ONUCI) general… between 2006 and 2008 and in 2002 he managed the police operations of Chaumont: Let me first express my the United Nations in the Democratic condolences and respect, gratitude Republic of Congo (MONUC). and sympathies for all the victims of this devastating natural disaster, to In his remarkable career Major the people of Haiti, UN civilian and General of the Gendarmerie of military staff who lost their lives and Argentina also served with the United to 18 fellows in arms, officers of the Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, UN Police. We are proud that they MINUSTAH. Holder of the highest worked with us and served the noble degree of the Military Academy in cause of peace. Paris (1989) and also of the diploma of the High Studies of the French When I arrived in Port-au-Prince the Gendarmerie (1990), Major General UNPol was in a quite complex Chaumont also served at different situation. The former Police posts in the United States of America, Commissioner Diallo ended his tour in France and in Chile. He is the of duty just weeks before the disaster laurel of the Medal of the French and his deputy and the acting Police Gendarmerie and he was decorated Commissioner Douglas Coates three times by the United Nations. (Canada) died during the This man of action received the earthquake. Significant number of editorial team of the MINUSTAH UNPols was also victims or had Police Express in his office at the colleagues who died during the temporary UNPol HQ. disaster.

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I would like to use this opportunity to our available logistic resources so commend the hard work of the UNPol that we can rapidly formulate our chief of staff and de facto chief- needs. police-officer during the crisis Ibrahim Moussa (Niger) who Express: Haitian National Police was performed excellently in also affected by the earthquake. extraordinary difficult circumstances and commanded UNPol officers who Chaumont: Haitian National Police were involved from the first moment (HNP) was seriously hit by the in the rescue and salvage operations. earthquake. Many officers were killed, many of them lost family members, HNP Headquarters were damage. In those circumstances they were fighting for survival and barely 15% of them reported for duty in the immediate aftermath of the quake. Fortunately, as they were bearing with their personal loss and tragedies, they returned to their jobs and these days 95% of officers are back at work. I have daily meetings with the chief of the HNP and we have a very good Express: Police officers were also working relationship. One has to victims of the earthquake? understand that these are extremely difficult moments for his service. Chaumont: Going through such a traumatic experience of a giant Express: What are MINUSTAH disaster people engaged here during UNPol’s main activities now? the earthquake suffered an enormous stress and we are already Chaumont: At this moment UNPol is undertaking measures to provide assisting HNP in securing public staff counseling and moral support to order and is helping the them. Also all police officers reestablishment and revival of the received 5 extra days of CTO. Haitian economy. UNPol Formed Police Units (FPU) provide escorts for Express: What have you done in the the money transfers to the banks, last few days to revitalize UNPol? they are securing fuel distribution and even provide protection for the Chaumont: In these couple of days supermarkets that are opening again. we managed to reestablish the chain For example, just in a single day we of command and to give chance to performed over 250 foot patrols and staff members who did not fill fit for secured 45 bank branches. We work to rest and recuperate. And expect that this situation will be every day more and more police stabilized very soon. officers are back on their posts. We also started a detailed assessment of Express: These new circumstances the office and lodging facilities that also influenced the general activities are used by UNPol as well as of all of UNPol? 3

Chaumont: In this extraordinary Chaumont: For many years my environment we also have to reshape country Argentina has been taking our organization and reassess our part in numerous peacekeeping priorities. We work hard on the operations both in the military restructuring and reinforcement of capacity like in Haiti and Cyprus, and our logistics and personnel. We are in the police capacity like in Ivory rapidly revising the staff structure of Coast, Congo, Bosnia and Chad. the police component of MINUSTAH so that we can rebuild our capacities. Express: How many United Nations police officers (UNPols) has In order to reinforce the security MINUSTAH? among the local population and to secure the law and order, all Chaumont: Before the earthquake available UNPol officers are the United Nations Stabilization deployed to the field and they are Mission to Haiti had an authorized performing foot patrols throughout strength of a military component of Port-au-Prince and other places in up to 6,940 troops of all ranks and of Haiti. Officers who are not a police component of up to 2,211 performing patrols are going to the police officers and by the new police stations of HNP and provide Security Council resolution – UNSCR necessary coordination, advice and 1908 of 19 January 2010 - MINUSTAH control. will consist of a military component of up to 8,940 troops of all ranks and Express: What can you tell us about of a police component of up to 3,711 the current state of security in Haiti? police.

Chaumont: We are Express: From how many countries continuously do they come? assessing the state of security and I can Chaumont: They were selected from say that it is 42 contributing countries by the currently United Nations on the basis of their satisfactory. We are professional expertise. also assessing potential new risks that might be Express: From the commander’s provoked by new earthquakes, position is it difficult to manage such arrival of rainy season and revival of a divers mixture? gang activities (as we know that a significant number of prisoners used Chaumont: We all come from the opportunity of the disaster to different cultures, we had different escape from the prisons). educations and trainings, but somehow we all share common Express: To change the topic a little values and high professional bit, we know that you are coming standards. In that sense it is easy to from Argentina. Can you tell us manage this unit although sometimes something about the degree of very challenging. involvement of your country with the system of peacekeeping of the Express: What will be your goals in United Nations? this mission? 4

Chaumont: My goal is to reassure in several missions. Can you the population of Haiti of the police compare MINUSTAH with other presence. In a certain way to tell peacekeeping operations? them that the UN Police understand their needs to have safe and secure Chaumont: Regardless of the environment for the rebuilding of mission, the local population needs a secure environment provided by a respected police service.

Express: Do you have a message for the MINUSTAH UNPols?

Chaumont: I’m sending them an appeal to dedicate themselves to their work and to fulfill their duties their country. with the highest professional standards. Express: You have a long and brilliant career in the UN, you served Express: Thank you Mr. General.

Documents - SCR 1908 MINUSTAH strengthened

The United Nations Security Council augment backed on 19 January 2010 the its 9,000 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call uniformed to increase the overall force levels of personnel the United Nations peacekeeping already on mission in Haiti to support the the immediate recovery, reconstruction ground. and stability efforts following devastating earthquake of 12 The Council, in unanimously January. adopting resolution 1908, decided that MINUSTAH will consist of a Following his visit to the capital, Port- military component of up to 8,940 au-Prince, Mr. Ban asked the Council troops of all ranks and of a police for an additional 1,500 police officers component of up to 3,711 police, and and 2,000 troops to reinforce the that it will keep the new force levels mission, known as MINUSTAH, to under review as necessary.

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People Edmond Mulet appo inted as Acting SRSG

Immediately period 1986-1991. In 1990, he was after the re-elected for the period 1991-1996. devastating During his years in Congress, he was earthquake UN involved in the Central American Secretary- peace process, the Esquipulas General Mr. Accords, and the Guatemalan Peace Ban Ki-moon negotiations. He was also a member dispatched of the Guatemalan-Belize Edmond Mulet Commission, first as a representative (Guatemala), of Congress and later as a delegate the former from the Executive branch. Special Representative to Haiti and current Assistant-Secretary-General In 1993, he was appointed for Peacekeeping Operations, to the Ambassador of Guatemala to the country to assume full command of United States, a post from which he MINUSTAH in the wake of the resigned following the 1993 coup disaster. Ninety two UN staff d’état in Guatemala. Following the members lost their lives, and among restoration of the democratic rule, he those confirmed dead were Mr. Ban’s resumed his functions until 1996. Special Representative to Haiti and During those years, he was a regular head of MINUSTAH, Hédi Annabi, as lecturer at think-tanks, universities well as his Deputy, Luiz Carlos da and colleges across America, and at Costa, and Acting Police the Foreign Service Institute in Commissioner Doug Coates of the Washington, D.C. Upon his return to Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Guatemala in 1996, he was elected Secretary General of the “Union del Before joining the UN Mr. Mulet has Centro Nacional” party. served as Ambassador of Guatemala to the European Union, the Kingdom Born in Guatemala on 13 March 1951, of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Mr. Mulet received his primary Luxembourg. He has represented education in Guatemala, Montreal, his country in the preparatory New York and Bern (Switzerland). He meetings of several summits studied law and social studies in between Latin America/Caribbean Guatemala’s Universidad Mariano and the European Union. Galvez. He is a lawyer and notary public. Mr. Mulet was first elected to Guatemala’s National Congress in Mr. Mulet is married to Karen Lind 1982. He was a candidate to the 1984 from Guatemala, and they have two National Constituent Assembly, and children, Daniel and David. He is was elected to Congress for the fluent in Spanish, English and French.

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Remembrance Douglas Coates, 1957 – 2010

Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon called Douglas Coates of him a UN hero and said he was “a great Canada was serving as police officer who believed to his core in acting police the importance of rule of law and commissioner at the justice.” UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti As a decorated officer, Doug saw his (MINUSTAH) at the peacekeeping experience as more than time of his death in the a job. According to colleagues, he would 12 January 2010 close all meetings and correspondence earthquake. by saying, “Working together in the service of peace” – his personal motto. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police superintendent, he This devotion was evident throughout his made frequent UN peacekeeping extensive law-enforcement and missions to Haiti over a 17 year period. peacekeeping career that began in 1978, when he joined the Royal In 1993, Doug undertook his first of Canadian Mounted Police. He numerous missions to Haiti, where he specialized in mountain search and helped train local law enforcement rescue among other things. After officers. After several months, he was showing his strengths as an investigator pressured to leave due to civil unrest in in Alberta, Canada, his interests led him the region but returned in 1994 to to Ottawa where he became part of an continue his work, receiving a medal for elite emergency response team. his peacekeeping efforts on this subsequent trip. During his assignment In 1996, he assumed responsibility for with MINUSTAH (1994-1995), Doug was the management of Canadian police appointed as Regional Commander. His deployments, his competency leadership and human capacities, eventually bringing him to head the professionalism and kindness have Proceeds of Crime Unit in Quebec which always been praised as well as by his focused on money laundering. He also hierarchy than his collaborators. Former took secondments at Pearson colleagues noted that Doug’s passion, Peacekeeping Centre in Ottawa and the energy, focus and professionalism were Australian Federal Police. instantly recognizable. During the course of his extensive He put his professionalism and career, Doug was the recipient of a experience at the service of the United Canadian peacekeeping service medal, Nations and his devotion has always a Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal, a 30- been an example for all. One of Doug’s year silver clasp and the police defining achievements with the UN was exemplary service medal. He will be to open five police stations in the Grand remembered as a brave and generous Anse region of Haiti, re-establishing friend, colleague, father and husband. police services for the estimated 800,000 citizens of that area. He is survived by his wife, Lise and his three children, Julie, Mathieu and Luc.

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Fallen in the service of peace

As of 1 February 2010 MINUSTAH has United confirmed that the total number of Nations MINUSTAH fatalities is 92 (31 Secretary- international civilian staff, 18 national General Ban staff, 1 UN Volunteer, 24 military Ki-moon personnel, 18 police officers), with 30 praised the injured (three international civilian MINUSTAH staff recently by saying staff, four national civilian staff, four that their “efforts are the most UN Volunteers, four military sincere and eloquent memorial to personnel and 15 police officers) and those who gave their lives for this 7 remaining unaccounted for (five mission. To you, I say: we are with national staff and two UN Volunteers). you in spirit. To those no longer with us, I say: we will never forget you”. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all the victims, the Here, with great sorrow and pride we Haitian people and our UN pay tribute to 18 of our colleagues, colleagues who sacrificed their lives UN police officers who lost their lives in striving for a better world. during the earthquake.

Argentina Gustavo Gomez

Benin Okoro Affis

Benin Koura Batipa

Benin Salifou Imorou

Burkina Faso Onadja Tadia Rogers

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Canada Douglas Coates

Canada Mark Gallagher

China Huayu Zhao

China Zhong Jianqin

China Li Qin

China He Zhihong

France Lionel Amar

France Laurent Le Briero

Guinea Kourouma Frantaoumani

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Guinea Cheik Camara

Niger Adamou Biga Souley

Niger Issa Mairigia

Spain Rosa Crespo

And as our colleague Ms. Phyllis comes in saying good-buy for now to GROBL said: “The sorrow of the someone we love. May today’s faithful is not that of permanent loss, sorrow give way to the peace and but the tender sense of sadness that comfort of God’s love”.

News in brief Fugitives will be again behind the bars

afternoon of 1 February. In the Police Acting Special Representative of the Station of Cite Soleil, chief of United Nations Secretary-General in MINUSTAH, accompanied by the Haiti, Edmond Mulet visited the MINUSTAH Police Commissioner, community of Cite Soleil in the Major General Gerardo Chaumont,

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was informed about the situation in These concerns were shared by Mr. the community after the earthquake Mulet who also said that although the by the local officials - the director of Blue Helmets were at the moment the East Department of the Haitian focused on humanitarian tasks “the National Police (HNP), Ralph Stanley reestablishment of the security in the Jean Brice and the mayor of the Cite country remains one of the priority Soleil, Wilson Louis. goals of MINUSTAH”. In order to put the fugitives behind the bars the Among other issues the delicate cooperation of the population is of issue of security was raised. State of the utmost importance stressed the security is a cause of concern as it acting Special Representative. He is deteriorated by the escape of confident that people will play their numerous prisoners during the role as they don’t want in this area cataclysm of 12 January. And, criminals who make problems and according to director Jean Brice, further deteriorate their daily living. community of Cite Soleil was an ideal shelter for numerous fugitives, Mr. Mulet also thinks that, in such including gang leaders. He estimates circumstances, law enforcement that “the situation is extremely forces should be proactive. “I difficult in the Boston district” where believe that it is important to take the gang members has already initiative, track them down and not clashed last week. wait until they reorganize them” he said. And the acting chief of the Mr. Jean Brice promised that the Mission added “we will print the National Police would use all its photos of the criminals and launch a resources to reestablish security in search campaigned. Together with the country, including Cite Soleil. He the HNP we will arrest them again said that “he counts a lot on the and put them behind bars”, support of MINUSTAH to deal with promised Edmond Mulet. this special situation”.

Editorial Board Maj. General Gerardo Chaumont Police Commissioner

Col. Ibrahim Moussa Chief of Staff

Fred Blaise Media Relations Officer

With: Ivan Djordjevic (SPC Police Communication Adviser) and Liu Kun (Media Officer). UN Photos on page 10 by Sophia Paris.

MINUSTAH Police Express is regularly produced by the UN Police Public Information – Public Relations - Protocol Section.

Copyright © 2010 MINUSTAH Police Express. All rights reserved

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Gender Workshop on supporting MINUSTAH UNPOL Gender Unit on needs identification for female UNPOL officers

On Saturday, 30 January 2010 at the MINUSTAH UNPol Log Base in Port- au-Prince a workshop was held with the aim to identify specific needs of female UNPol officers in the light of the recent earthquake.

Mainstreaming a gender perspective in peace and security is a process of assessing the implications for women and men of all planned action, including legislation, policies or and other area in the West Province programmes, in all areas and at all which has an estimated population of levels. In 2000, the Security Council 2.2 million. adopted its landmark resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. This Over 90 members of the UN resolution and the subsequent personnel were reported dead and presidential statements stress the many are still unaccounted, including importance of women’s equal 18 male and female UNPOL officers, participation and full involvement in and those who have survived have all efforts to maintain and promote suffered a deep trauma because of peace and security. This was further loss of their friends and belongings. secured by the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Before the earthquake MINUSTAH Discrimination against Women UNPol had 88 female police officers. (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform Unfortunately three of them lost their for Action. lives during the disaster and two were injured. On 12 January Some of them at 16:53 hours left the local time, a mission area. major As a step to earthquake encourage the measuring 7.2 surviving on the Richter female officers scale struck a highly populated area of both UNPol and FPU, the SPC of Haiti and also affected populations Gender Adviser Ms. Olabisi in the south-west of the country Kolawole and MINUSTAH Gender damaging the capital Port-au-Prince Adviser Ms. Guilavogui Gnalin

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organized a workshop for all female children are victims not only of the officers. natural vices but also of their male surrounding. There are reports that The workshop was organized with there were cases of rapes in tent the aim to boost their morale and shelters and it is our task to have them encouraged by the UNPOL encourage victims to report there Commissioner and to facilitate the cases to the Haitian National Police. Gender office to identify gaps and Having on mind the special approach gender-specific needs for the female that female officers can have to UNPOL officers. female victims this could be of particular importance. Opening the workshop, Mr. Walter Wolf, Standing Police Capacity’s Chief, said that the whole UNPol together with the people of Haiti passed trough a traumatic experience of a major disaster. Although being victims in their own right, UNPol officers immediately joined the search and rescue activities. Many officers lost their accommodations and belongings and General Chaumont said that he is are now sleeping in the base. “Now, extremely satisfied with we have to look towards the future professionalism and good skills of and see what we can do to stabilize female UNPols and added that in the situation and improve working these difficult situation we have to and living conditions of our people” prioritize tasks. He said that living added Mr. Wolf. conditions for everyone were hard in the aftermath of the quake, and noted Present female UNPOls from Cote that he was also sleeping in his office d’Ivoire, Mali, France, Guinea, container. However things are Central African Republic and Nigeria improving – all the injured got a exchange their experiences of the proper treatment and those who earthquake and life after it. They could have not been treated here raised the issues of difficulties in were sent to Dominican Republic or lodging, food provisions and lack of USA. UN Experts are now assessing bathrooms. They also stressed the all UNPOl facilities as well as their importance of professional accommodations and will issue soon counseling to all staff members. guidelines for future lodging. Very soon a boat will come to Port au Addressing the workshop, Prince and lodging will be available MINUSTAH Police Commissioner for UNPols who do not want to lodge General Gerardo Chaumont said on the ground. Also, all UNPols who that Haitian people needs assistance lost their belonging during the quake in these difficult moments in their can fill up claims and get history and UNPol is at the front lines reimbursement from the United of providing it. Female officers have Nations. “Solution will take time and special responsibility having on mind we have to be patient”, concluded that, as in all disasters, women and General Chaumont. 13

In an open exchange of opinions with The gender focal points will make a the workshop participants other report from this conference and issues were raised – the need for staff formulate recommendations for the counseling, better allocation of office gender-specific needs and gaps in space, visa facilitation for ORBs and support. CTOs.

Participants also expressed great concern and interest for assistance to the colleagues in the Haitian National Police and their female counterparts with whom they developed good cooperation before the disaster. They also urged greater assistance to them.

Staff Counseling Better to prevent than to cure

Life and work in And it is extremely important to learn peacekeeping how to efficiently manage it. missions in general is hard In order to learn more about stress and passing and efforts that MINUSTAH is trough the undertaking to help its staff we met frightening with Mr. Youssoupha Niang, Chief experience of a of the Staff Counseling Unit. devastating earthquake and Staff Counseling Unit, which is loss of close and dear ones is highly located near the UN Clinic at the Log traumatic. Witnesses of such Base, has 7 counselors in Port-au- tragedies are deeply tested. It is a Prince and 3 in Santo Domingo who stressful experience. However, the are constantly providing majority of them continue with their psychological help to the civilian, activities, finding in themselves or in military and police staff of MINUSTAH their surrounding resources needed and their dependents. They also have to help them face the difficulties. a network of over 120 Peer Helpers from all branches of the Mission who Stress is not something that we can were trained in the past to recognize vanish from our mind, neither a stress and emotional traumas among passing state of mind. It is an entity their colleagues, to counsel them or that is in our body and affects our bio refer to professional help. The Unit psychological and social functioning. has been constantly organizing 14

training workshops, producing info to prevent that to cure” says he and materials and newsletters and adds “as I prefer to say we need performs individual and group more firefighters that doctors debriefings. knowing that staff and personnel will consult the doctor when they are sick “We have three basic goals in our but the counselor before they get work: to provide more cohesion and sick”. psychosocial support to our staff, to normalize their reactions trough Mr. Niang is advising all UNPols to group experience and to educate listen to their bodies and learn how people to better cope with the to recognize stress. Workload is too extraordinary circumstances in the heavy, challenges are at every mission area”, says Mr. Niang. He corner, misunderstandings among also adds that at the beginning they the team members and among teams were working more with individuals of different nationalities and difficult but these days they have more and living conditions and expatriation all more group interventions. contribute to the stress accumulation. When staff members are exhausted, The Unit is in constant touch with the under pressure or not supported, leadership of UNPol and staff they can not perform their job. counseling is part of the induction Although they might try and put their program. At each of these events best effort forward, everybody stress vulnerability test is performed suffers. and UNPols were always on the top of the scale, which is understandable as In these circumstances in order to they are constantly exposed to reduce stress it is extremely critical situations. The problem is important to sleep sufficiently, eat especially present among members enough and exercise regularly as of FPUs – they have long working well as “to maintain social relations hours, are available 24/7, they can and stay in touch with one’s friends. not plan their activities and life and Also, one has to be realistic and can only count on CTOs. “Six months adapt its own rhythm to reality”, after constant tension, exhaustion and advises Mr. Niang. in this stressful climate people easily burn out”, notes Mt. Niang. It is important to mention that there is a confidentiality contract between a “In a situation like this, when we have staff member and the counselor and a major disaster like the earthquake, this contract is broken only in the it is understandable that policemen event of death treat for one’s life or could be the most vulnerable as they others lives. are exposed in the first lines to this giant tragedy” says Mr. Niang. He In order to perform better we need to also notes that only big contingents take care of ourselves and if and usually FPUs come to the mission necessary seek professional area with a medical staff but never assistance. And that assistance is with a counselor. “It is always better available at the Staff Counseling Unit.

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Country and peacekeepers Guinea

Africa has three Guineas, and each Its motto: one of it has a different language: Work-Justice-Solidarity and Fren ch , Portuguese and Spanish. As a Its language: French. matter of fact we distinguish: Guinea Conakry has four big natural 1) Guinea with an area of 245 857 regions: km2 that is also called Guinea – Conakry (Francophone), - Maritime Guinea or Low 2) Guinea Bissau with an area of Guinea (on the coast of the 36 125 km2 Atlantic also called Ocean), “Guinea - Middle Portuguese” Guinea or (Lusophonic), Fouta-Djalon and (at the south 3) Equatorial of Senegal) Guinea (28 - High Guinea 051 km2) or (a huge “Spanish savannah Guinea” that is bordering with Mali), (hispanophionic). and - Rainforest Guinea Geography (mountainous region covered with rainforests at the south- Guinea-Conakry, officially called east, towards Liberia and Ivory Republic of Guinea, is a West African Coast). country on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded on the north-west History by Guinea Bissau, on the north by Senegal, on the east by Mali, on the The territory of Guinea became a south-east by Ivory Coast and on the French colony in 1893 and was south by Liberia and Sierra Leone. integrated into French West Africa (AOF). It covers and area of 245 857 km2 and has an estimated It was the first country of the population of 9,5 million francophone Africa that inhabitants. It is characterized obtained independence in by: 1958 after it refused to be a part of the French Community. It Its flag: red-yellow-green became Republic of Guinea on 2 16

October 1958 and was lead by average temperature is 26,7 degrees President Ahmed Sekou Toure, and Centigrade. after his death by his successor General Lansana Conte. Fouta-Djalon has a climate similar to Sudanese. The average rainfall is about 1.778 mm and it’s getting smaller in the Mandingo plateau. Natural resources Contrary to that the Guinean highlands are the most soaked, the Guinea has some of the most annual precipitation reaches 2794 important economic potentials of mm. Africa. It has more than one third of the world reserves of bauxite and it is its second largest world producer, Guinea and the peacekeeping significant deposits of iron ore, as missions well as diamonds, gold, oil, uranium, copper and manganese, and not to mention its huge hydroelectric/water power capacities.

In Guinea there are springs of some of the major rivers of West Africa. The Bafing River, which is the principal river of Senegal, and the Gambia River have their source on the pastoral plateau of Fouta-Djalon and flow towards the north and borders. Many other rivers are also born in the highlands of Fouta- Djalon, flowing down to the coastal Republic of Guinea has been actively flatlands dividing themselves in participating in international many flows. The Niger River and its missions and in the peacekeeping important tributary, the Milo, also missions both African and those of have their springs in the hills of the United Nations, especially in Guinean highlands. Liberia (ECOMOG), in Sierra Leone (MINUSIL), in the Democratic Climate Republic of Congo (MONUC), in Burundi (ONUB) and in Central Guinea is characterized by different African Republic and Chad climates mostly influenced by (MINURCAT). different relief. Coastal plain has the highest precipitation and most stable In MINUSTAH the Guinean contingent temperatures. Conakry, the capital, is composed of 36 police officers. has 4.418 mm of rain per year and the

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Facts and Figures

MINUSTAH - United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

Current authorization: Established by the Security Council Resolution 1542 (2004), end mandate extended by its resolutions 1576 (2004), 1608 (2005), 1658 (2006), 1702 (2006), 1743 (2007), 1780 (2007), 1840 (2008).

Mandate extended until 15 October 2010, with the intention of further renewal (Security Council resolution 1892 of 13 October 2009)

Special Representative of the Secretary General (Acting): Mr. Edmond Mulet (Guatemala)

Police Commissioner: Major General Gerardo Christian Chaumont (Argentina)

Military Force Commander: Major General Floriano Peixoto Vieira (Brazil)

Authorized strength: A military component of up to 8,940 troops of all ranks and a police component of up to 3,711 police. (UNSCR 1908 of 19-01-2010):

Strength (on 01-01-10): 6.916 military (101 staff officers and 6.815 in contingents) observers and 2.014 police officers, supported by international civilian personnel, local civilian staff and United Nations Volunteers.

Contributors of military personnel: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, India, Jordan, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rep. of Korea, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, USA.

Contributors of police personnel: See chart on the following pages.

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Police contributing countries and number of UNPols (as per January 1st, 2010)

17 335 Jordan Argentina

6 9 Bangladesh Madagascar

32 40 Benin Mali

4 158 Brazil Nepal

19 49 Burkina Faso Niger 121 12 Cameroon Nigeria

Canada 90 252 Pakistan

3 15

Central African Philippines Republic

17 21 Chad Romania

3 8 Chile Russian Federation

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142 8 China Rwanda

Colombia 26 112 Senegal

55 5 Cote d’Ivoire Serbia

2 34 Croatia Spain

28 14 Egypt Sri Lanka

13 4 El Salvador Togo

62 52 France Turkey

1 6 Grenada Uruguay

36 40 Guinea USA

151 3

India Yemen

9 2014 Jamaica Total (88 female)

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