Confederation of Independent States 1992

International Information

International Operation Name: Confederation of Independent States - 1992

International Mission Name: Confederation of Independent States - 1992

Mandating Organization: Government of Canada

Region Name: Europe

Location: Former Soviet Union

Mission Date: 6 January 1992 - 21 April 1992

Mandate: To deliver Red Cross, food and medical supplies to states of the former Soviet Union.

Narrative: With the break-up of the former Soviet Union, the delivery of food and medicines also broke down as the transition from a controlled economy did not go smoothly. At the request of the International Commission for the Red Cross, several NATO nations began emergency airlifts of food and medical supplies to the locations that were in greatest need.

In early 1992, the Minister of National Defence announced that Canada would provide and deliver aid. Two Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) CC-137 Boeing flights took place almost immediately, transporting powdered milk donated by the European Union from Cologne, Germany to Moscow on 6 and 7 January. The next phase of flights began on 27 January when further CC-137 flights brought medical supplies from CFB Trenton to 15 locations including Kiev, Ukraine and Moscow, Perm and other locations in Russia. The airlift continued until 21 April 1992.