Current Peacekeeping Missions
There are 2,400 Canadian soldiers, sailors, airmen, and peacekeepers deployed overseas on current missions. Approximately 8,000 Canadian Forces members are preparing for, engaged in, or returning from an overseas mission as of February 19, 2003.
Locations of Worldwide Canadian Peacekeeping efforts.
There are 959 'Theatre Personnel' missions in the Arabian Gulf Region and Southwest Asia, 1 269 in the Balkans, 232 in the Middle East, and 26 in Africa. Thus resulting in 2486 Theatre Personnel missions throughout the world in total.
Since 1947, Canadian Forces have been involved in 72 international operations. This figure does not include all current operations.
The above information was taken from: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/operations/current_ops_e.asp
"The peacekeeping initiatives are generally done under the command of the United Nations. So they will assess the situation in particular where it is in terms of the conflict and then will request peacekeepers and make the commitment. It's done under the United Nations flag and you'll notice that the peacekeepers themselves will wear the blue beret of the United Nations. Now I think that's an important point, it's not one country unilaterally deciding to do this, it's done under the United Nations. Now on rare occasions NATO might decide that the peacekeeping activities are required, but generally it's the United Nations, and they're coordinated. You'll get situations where the lines of command can vary through different countries. It's a multi-lateral effort and it's implemented and monitored by the United Nations. It's important that the people on the ground trust the peacekeepers and don't think that they've got some kind of agenda."
Text
by Melissa Sands
Earth photo
used with permission from NASA
Numeric data
and graphic provided with permission by http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/operations/current_ops_e.asp
Athens
District High School