Occasional Paper #13, United Nations Coordination of the International Humanitarian Response To The Gulf Crisis 1990-1992

By Larry Minear, U.B.P. Chelliah, Jeff Crisp, John Mackinlay, and Thomas G. Weiss

Comments from from David H. A. Hannay, United Kingdom Mission to the UN, New York, 5 August 1992

Dear Mr. Weiss,

Thank you for your letter attaching the report on UN coordination of the humanitarian response to the Gulf crisis. The report is a comprehensive and penetrating survey of the successes and failures of the humanitarian effort in the Gulf crisis and it is clear that it is based on much careful research.

The interaction of security and humanitarian issues is a complex field and one which will increasingly require attention, as the crises in Yugoslavia and Somalia have illustrated all too clearly. Your report is a valuable contribution to the discussion of these issues and I am sure that it will be welcomed by the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, which has of course been established with the purpose of addressing many of the points which you have raised.

I have sent copies of your report to the departments concerned in London, who will certainly be interested in its conclusions.

Yours sincerely,

D H A Hannay