Peacekeeping - The Iceland Crisis Response Unit

Icelandic participation in peacekeeping began in the 1950s when several Icelandic police officers were deployed to work with the United Nations in Palestine. Since then Iceland has participated in various missions with multiple international organizations. During the last decade, Iceland’s participation has increased and become more structured. In 2001 the Iceland Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) was established. Its objective is to recruit, prepare, train and deploy personnel for peacekeeping missions along with general supervision of operations. Increasing participation is in part due to the increasing importance of civilian peacekeeping missions. Iceland has no military forces and therefore contributes civilian personnel only. Civilian participation is seen as a vital bridge between conventional peacekeeping and economic development and is therefore very important in building and maintaining peace through a comprehensive approach.

For an overview of ICRU current and recent activities, please also see:

Iceland Crisis Response Unit - Yearly report in English

During the 1990s most of Iceland’s participation in peacekeeping took place in the Balkans with various projects in Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo and elsewhere. Mostly medically trained personnel and police officers were deployed.

A major project undertaken by the ICRU, which was considered a great success, was the administration and operation of Pristina airport, Kosovo from 2002 to 2004. Following that success, Iceland took responsibility for the operation of Kabul international airport in Afghanistan, from 2004 to 2005, on behalf of NATO. The ICRU continues to deploy personnel with the NATO/ISAF mission in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan. Other projects include the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel in Lebanon, OSCE election monitoring, and personnel contributions to the World Food Program in Sudan, UNIFEM in SE-Europe and UNICEF in Palestine.

Peacekeeper gives medical attention to Afghan refugee

Iceland has cooperated with many international organizations in peacekeeping and other crisis management efforts. Among them are the United Nations and its various institutions, NATO, the OSCE (election monitoring missions), the European Union as well as extensive Nordic cooperation.

The Iceland Crisis Response Unit has formulated a framework that is geared towards increasing Iceland’s participation in peace operations and maximising effectiveness. The focus is on civilian assignments, utilising the potential and skillset of Icelandic experts in missions which suit their background. The following four main operational focus areas have been identified.

-         Law enforcement and judicial system

-         Aviation sector and airport operation

-         Media and public information

-         Health care and sanitary issues

The goal for the near to medium term is to increase the number of individuals who participate in peacekeeping missions and to strive to maintain an equal gender balance. Icelanders have been sought after and highly recommended for participation in peacekeeping missions. Following their missions overseas they have in many cases been recruited by international organizations for further mission work.

UXO Expert doing cluster bomb demining work in S-Lebanon

The modern world presents a range of complex challanges in the field of peace and security. Many devastating conflicts and fragile post-conflict areas require support from the international community in order to work towards a long-term peaceful solution. Iceland participates where it can in that important work in partnership with other nations and organizations with shared goals.

Contacts for the Iceland Crisis Response Unit

Anna Jóhannsdóttir, Director, Minister counsellor, annaj@mfa.is, t. +354 545 7971

Benedikt Höskuldsson, Minister councellor, bh@mfa.is, t.+354 545 8944 

Jónas G. Allansson, Expert, jga@mfa.is, t. +354 545 9956

Address:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Rauðarárstíg 25, 150 Reykjavík
Iceland
Telephone number: +354 545 7972
Fax number: +354 545 7975