Security for States vs. Refugees: "Operation Provide Comfort" and the April 1991 Mass Influx of Refugees from Northern Iraq into Turkey

Abstract

In April 1991, the massive influx of Iraqi refugees into Turkey precipitated a political process that led to one of the rare examples of humanitarian intervention. Under pressure from the Turkish government and world public opinion, Western allies declared a safe zone above the 36th parallel in northern Iraq and launched "Operation Provide Comfort." This Operation enabled the extension of relief assistance to almost half a million refugees and their repatriation to northern Iraq within a relatively short period of time. The article tries to establish whether "Operation Provide Comfort" served state security interests or the security of the refugees from Iraq.