The newest contingent of Dutch UN observers recently attended the pre-deployment training at Clingendael. During the training the 15 officers were immersed in the political, historical and religious context of the Middle East.

By exchanging views with experts and practitioners from the field, and through debates with representatives from Civil Society, the participants achieved a greater understanding of the regional dynamics as well as the workings of the UN peace-keeping operations in the region.

The Netherlands  has been contributing approximately 15 officers each year to both UNDOF (UN Disengagement Observer Force) and UNTSO (UN Truce Supervision Organization). During their one-year deployment they are tasked with monitoring, observing and reporting the cross-border military and security incidents and developments. The Military Observers generally live among the local population and become immersed in the social life and customs of the region.

Test your knowledge
What do you know about the situation in the Middle East? Answer the 10 questions from the UNTSO-UNDOF training (answers at last slide).

Interested in international security?
If you would like to know more about international security, our Training Course on International Security could be of interest to you. Or are you or is your staff going to be posted abroad to a conflict or post-conflict region, and would you like to have a tailor-made pre-mission course? Please contact Training and Research Fellows Suzanne Oosterwijk and Sharon Beijer.