United Nations Emergency Force: Eighth Report of the Secretary-General (A/5736)

by United Nations

Introduction

This report covers the functioning of the United Nations Emergency Force since 31 August 1963, when the last report was submitted to the General Assembly by the Secretary-General in pursuance of Assembly resolution 1125 (XI), paragraph 4, through 31 July 1964.

A. Organization and Functioning of the Force

I. Effectiveness and Organization

1. In the period reviewed by this report, the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) has continued its function of guarding and patrolling along the Armistice Demarcation Line (ADL) in the Gaza Strip and the International Frontier (IF) in the Sinai Peninsula. As a result, this area has continued to remain free of any serious incidents. There appears to be a growing sense of security among the population as evidenced by increased cultivation and commercial and building activity.

2. The total number of violations of the ADL and of the IF and of cases of infiltration is approximately the same as in the year 1962-1963. These violations, except for the vew few cases which involved planned attempts on the part of individuals to enter the territory of the other side, were of a quite minor nature, such as incursions of ten to fifty meters until the parties were warned off by UNEF patrols. Air violations, however, continue to cause concern. There was one incident of air combat in July 1963 between United Arab Republic (UAR) and Israeli aircraft near the IF. But, as in previous years, the greater number of air space violations occurred in the northeast area of the Gaza Strip.

3. During 1963-1964, there has been no significant change in the general operational functions of UNEF in spite of reductions in strength of certain contingents of the Force. But in consequence of the reductions there have been some changes in the deployment of contingents within UNEF (see section II).

4. The Force has been reduced by a total of 289 all ranks (i.e. DANOR Battalion by one company of 139 all ranks and the Yugoslav Reconnaissance Battalion by 100 all ranks). The Brazilian Battalion in its next rotation will be reduced by 100 men, making a total reduction of 389 for the Force.

5. The composition of the Force, as of 31 July, is as follows:

Contingent	Type of Unit	Officers	Other Ranks	Total
Brazil	Infantry	41	588	629
Canada	Reconnaissance squadron, engineering, signals and service units; air transport unit (ATU)	94	877	971
Denmark	Infantry	35	393	428
India	Infantry, signals and service units	78	1,187	1,265
Norway	Infantry	55	440	495
Sweden	Infantry and hospital	32 and 25	410 and 71	442 and 96
Yugoslavia	Infantry	58	549	607
Totals		418	4,515	4,933

6. The tours of duty and the rotation policies of the several contingents are as follows:

(a) Brazil: One-year tour of duty, half the contingent being rotated each six months in a Brazilian naval vessel (in January and August 1964).

(b) Canada: One-year tour of duty. Logistics personnel are rotated in small groups throughout the year, and the reconnaissance squadron as a complete unit once a year (in February/March 1964). All personnel are transported in RCAF aircraft.

(c) Denmark, Norway, and Sweden: Six-months tour of duty; all personnel are transported by chartered commercial aircraft (in October/November 1963 and April/May 1964).

(d) India: One-year tour of duty rotated annually by chartered Indian ship (in October/November 1963).

(e) Yugoslavia: Six-months tour of duty, rotated by chartered Yugoslav ship (in November/December 1963 and May/June 1964).

7. The air unit, 115 Air Transport Unit (ATU), is provided by Canada and its establishment is five Caribous and two Otters. Prior to February 1964, the 115 ATU carried out major maintenance for the Yemen operation. In February the air unit of the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission moved to El Arish and the two units were combined with the responsibility of carrying out air support for both missions. As regards UNEF, the duties of the 115 ATU are as follows:

(a) Air reconnaissance of the IF;

(b) Movement of personnel, stores and supplies of rations to UNEF outposts on the IF at El Kuntilla, Ras el Naqb and Sharm el Shiekh;

(c) Scheduled communications flights for postal and logistics requirements to Beirut;

(d) Commander's reconnaissance and duty;

(e) Scheduled flights for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the cost of which is fully met by UNRWA;

(f) Welfare flights as required (the cost of which is fully met by personnel using the flights);

(g) Assistance during rotation of contingents in moving personnel from the Gaza Strip to the airhead at Beirut;

(h) Movement of personnel and supplies to and from the Yemen area of operations;

(i) Occasional transportation of high officials.

8. There has been a change in the long-range air support of UNEF. Canadian troops are now rotated each week on the Cyprus Yukon between Canada and Marville, France, and then by North Star which operates weekly between Marville and El Arish. This has resulted in a reduction in cost to UNEF of approximately $50,000 annually.

II. Deployment and Daily Routine

9. As before, UNEF continues to remain deployed along the western side of the Egyptian-Israeli ADL and along the IF, covering a distance of 273 kilometers. There is a Swedish detachment at Sharm el Shiekh to keep under observation shipping through the Straits of Tiran, while the Sinai coast between the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Straits of Tiran (about 187 kilometers) is kept under observation by air reconnaissance.

10. The following chart gives detailed information on the deployment of the Force:

Sector	Unit	Location of HQ	Length of Sector (kms)	# of Observation Posts	# of Platoons on ADL or IF	# of Platoons on Guard or Protective Duties	# of Platoons in Reserve	Total Available for Duty	Average Strength per Platoon/Troop
ADL I (GR 1017-1117 to GR 1047-1014)	DANOR	Hill 88, Gaza	16	19	6	8	2	16	33
ADL II (GR 1047-1014 to GR 0988-0962)	Swedish Battalion	Gaza	9	9	3	3	1	7	36
ADL III (GR 0988-0963 to GR 0898-0843)	Indian Battalion	Deir al Ballah	16	24	13	3	0	16	40
ADL IV (GR 0843 to GR 0802-0703)	Brazilian Battalion	Rafah	19	19	8	3	1	12	38
IF I (GR 0802-0703 to GR 0916-0340)	Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron	UNEF Maintenance Area, Rafah	36	2	2	1	1	4	18
IF II (GR 0916-0340 to GR 1405-8785)	Yugoslav Reconnaissance Battalion	El Arish	170	6	5	3	4	12	30

11. Following the reductions so fare made, thirty-seven platoons are employed on the ADL and IF, twenty-one on guard or protective duties and nine in reserve.

12. The ADL is kept under observation in daytime by inter-visible observation posts (OPs), each manned by two sentries working in shifts of approximately six hours. By night, observation is assured by moving patrols on foot covering the length of the ADL on an average of three times each night. These patrols are of varying strengths, from five to seven men, and patrol at irregular intervals, paying particular attention to routes likely to be used by infiltrators and violators. Each platoon camp to the rear of the OPs holds a reserve detachment to offer aid to an OP or patrol if necessary. The means of communication and signals (telephone, wireless and flares) ensure a speedy response to calls for assistance.

13. The IF is kept under observation by the Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron and the Yugoslav Reconnaissance Battalion. The Canadian sector has two outposts while the Yugoslav sector has four outposts and six OPs.

14. Motor patrols operating from these outposts cover the areas between outposts and certain tracks leading to the frontier. The Canadian sector covers approximately 37 kilometers and the Yugoslav 170 kilometers.

15. The entire length of the IF is also patrolled at irregular intervals on an average of three times a week by aircraft of the 115 ATU and thus any suspicious activity seen from the air can be checked by ground patrols from the reserves available in these units.

16. The details of the deployment of guards and detachments is as follows:

(i) Headquarters UNEF and Installations in Gaza: The Swedish Battalion, located in Gaza, provides these guards by three platoons.

(ii) UNEF Maintenance Area, Rafah: One company (four platoons) of the DANOR Battalion guards the perimeter of the maintenance area by manning the searchlight towers and also by patrolling on a twenty-four-hour basis.

(iii) UNEF Air Station, El Arish: The area of the El Arish airfield, controlled by 115 ATU, and their camp at Marina guarded by two platoons from the Yugoslav Reconnaissance Battalion.

(iv) UNEF Detachment at Sharm el Sheikh: A detachment of approximately one platoon of the Swedish Battalion, with Canadian administrative troops, is stationed at Sharm el Shiekh for observation of the Straits of Tiran.

III. Incidents

17. The type and number of incidents observed by UNEF troops between August 1963 and July 1964 are indicated in annexes I-V. The total number of cases of infiltration and other incidents along the ADL and IF has remained approximately the same. Most of these incidents were of a very minor nature.

18. The number of air violations has dropped by approximately 25 per cent of last year's figure.

19. The number of sea violations on both sides has increased since last year but the majority were violations by small fishing boats and of a minor nature.

IV. Well-Being

20. The health of the Force has been satisfactory. The main causes of hospitalization were injuries received in traffic or sports accidents and gastroenteritis. The total number of patients admitted to the UNEF hospital during the year was 521 military and 311 civilians, and there were 3,501 military and 2,985 civilian out-patients. These figures are similar to previous years.

21. Thirty-one patients were sent for treatment outside the area.

22. As in the past, a certain number of civilians continue to be treated in the UNEF hospital. Among the patients were United Nations international and field service staff members, local employees, some Bedouin children and a few cases of older men brought in from the encampments in the area of the IF.

23. The welfare programme embraces the following activities:

(a) Leave centre (half the year and Cairo and half the summer in Lebanon);

(b) Entertainment shows;

(c) Welfare tours;

(d) Sports and athletic competitions.

24. The winter leave centre in Cairo catered to 263 officers and 3,773 other ranks; the summer leave centre opened on 26 May. The leave policy is unchanged, viz., each man is entitled to one week's leave at a leave centre for every six months of duty, plus 2 1/2 days per month.

25. Entertainment was provided by three of the four live shows authorized by the welfare budget at a maximum cost of $4,000 each - a Yugoslav show in September 1963, a Scandinavian in January 1964, and a Canadian Broadcasting Company show in July 1964. In July, the annual UNEF talent show was held.

26. All forty-two units may view between three and five films per week. These are provided from the permanently rotating library of twenty-five films held in UNEF, five new films being sent from New York each week. These are shown for five weeks, during which time they were also sent to Yemen, during the existence of the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission before being returned to New York. In all, fifty-seven UNEF projectors and a few nationally-owned ones are used.

27. Reasonably priced tours were organized for UNEF troops to places of local interest, such as Beirut, Jerusalem, Damascus, Amman, Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and St. Catherine's Monastery. Jerusalem proved the most popular and over 3,000 have visited that city since last September.

28. Sports are organized in two half-yearly rounds of competitions with fifteen events in each, including team games. Both seasons close with a sports day following which the trophies and medals are presented by the UNEF Commander. Instruction is now given in such sports as swimming, tennis and golf, and the ADL Golf Club now has 110 regular members. Half-day fishing trips were started recently and were scheduled throughout the summer.

29. Most contingents have their own chaplains (pandits and garanthis for the Indian contingent) and services are held regularly.

30. The number of disciplinary cases during the year showed no decrease. There have been 222 car accidents and 381 incidents.

31. The exercise of disciplinary authority continued to be the responsibility of the respective contingent commanders under the overall supervision and control of the Commander. All military personnel are governed jurisdictionally by their national civil and military laws.

32. The Commander is assisted in the maintenance of discipline and good order by a military provost company composed of specially trained military personnel provided by each of the participating countries.

V. Logistics

33. Further efforts have been made in the past year to establish firm scales of all essential stores and equipment and to phase out and dispose of obsolete, non-serviceable and surplus items. The standardization policy for vehicles, generators and other heavy equipment has continued, being implemented through the annual equipment procurement programme. Consideration has been given to the need for economy without affecting the efficient operation of the Force. Improvement of the maintenance of all equipment has been stressed through frequent periodic inspections of depots, workshops and field units and an adequate reporting system. Accommodation, messing and sanitation facilities in all camps have been further improved in order to promote the welfare and health of the troops.

Equipment

34. Vehicles. A firmer vehicle policy, based on experience, has been established. A further study of the Force vehicle establishment is at present in progress in order to bring unit holdings into balance with operational tasks, taking into consideration reductions in the Force.

35. Communications equipment. Improvement of communications has continued. New wireless equipment has been obtained for operational use along the IF. Standardization of telephone and switchboard equipment is in progress with ultimate savings to UNEF.

36. Ordnance stores. Difficulties are still being experienced in obtaining spare parts owing mainly to long procurement lead time and complicated procurement procedures. However, improved repair procedures have resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of disabled vehicles. Further improvements in workshop facilities aimed at expediting repairs and reducing repairs by local contractors are under consideration.

Supplies

38. Water. The situation remains unsatisfactory. Water has to be brought from various sources to the different camps and outposts by a large fleet of water trucks which are subject to severe deterioration. To lessen the problem, plans are in progress to supply water direct from new wells to company camps wherever possible. The distillation plans supplying the outpost at Sharm el Sheikh have failed repeatedly; as a result, water must frequently be obtained from sources 100 kilometers from the camp.

39. Rations. The quality of rations is, in general, good. In the past, the policy has been that ration scales could be amended only if such changes did not increase the total cost. However, some changes in certain food items which are not palatable to the troops are being proposed.

40. Petrol, oil and lubricants. No essential changes have been made in the present allotment system except for the introduction of higher octane gasoline for certain types of vehicles. It has been observed that most vehicles using this fuel operate more efficiently and that the frequency of engine overhaul is reduced. Consideration is being given to the use of higher octane gasoline for all vehicles with high compression motors. Although this will increase future petrol costs it will also reduce repair costs considerable, resulting in a net saving in the logistics budget.

41. Ammunition. Procurement has been made strictly in accordance with present ammunition scales taking into consideration current holdings and anticipated expenditures for the year.

Transport

42. Road. Second line transport requirements, which are met by the transport company, have increased during the year owing to difficulties in obtaining certain supplies through normal local procurement channels. In addition to the routine transport service Rafah/Port Said/Cairo, road convoys have operated continuously between Rafah and Beirut to transport necessary commodities. An increment to the establishment of the transport company is being considered.

43. Sea. Movement of personnel and freight was carried out through Port Said as usual. During the year the average sea cargo was 574,982 metric tons per month for inbound and 7,480 metric tons for outbound freight. A total of 620 ships were unloaded. No problems were encountered with the sea rotation of the Brazilian, Indian and Yugoslav contingents.

44. Air. Movement of personnel and freight was carried out by the United Nations, national and commercial aircraft in accordance with routine and special arrangements. On the average, 19,000 pounds of airmail and freight, plus 100 members of the Force were airlifted monthly between Pisa and El Arish. The Canadian and Scandinavian contingents rotated by RCAF and commercial aircraft, respectively.

45. As a result of the heavy rain last winter, the runways at El Arish suffered considerable damage with the result that the two UNEF runways were closed to aircraft heavier than the Caribou type. The runways should be repaired by 1 October. If not it will be necessary to close the base to North Star aircraft and use Beirut and road convoys. A rough estimate of the cost of repair is $140,000. Negotiations with United Arab Republic companies are in progress for this work.

Accommodation

46. Buildings. Further efforts have been made to improve existing accommodation in accordance with an annual programme for maintenance and new construction. Tents are used only in emergency. Some buildings taken over from the United Arab Republic in 1957 require replacement, others require major repairs. A planned programme to correct the situation is in progress. Temporary electrical distribution systems in some camps and workshops have deteriorated to such an extent that they no longer meet fire safety standards. Action should be taken in 1965 to carry out extensive repairs.

47. Fire prevention. No major fires occurred during the year. Stricter enforcement of fire prevention regulations and more frequent fire safety inspections undoubtedly have contributed to this record.

Assistance to United Nations Yemen Observation Mission

48. The Force has provided rations, stores and equipment to the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission. Most of these items are from UNEF stocks. Costs are chargeable to the Observation Mission. Total assistance up to 31 May 1964 amounted to $157,700.00.

VI. Local Arrangements

49. Relations between the Force and the local population have been very good and cooperation with the United Arab Republic authorities, through the medium of their liaison staff, continues to be effective.

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