ALLIED HARBOUR

In response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the huge flow of refugees from Kosovo to neighbouring countries in the context of the Kosovo War, the North Atlantic Council decided to deploy the headquarters of the Allied Command Europa Mobile Force Land Component (AMF / L) in Albania to form a NATO-led Albanian force (AFOR). AFOR was to assist the Albanian government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, the designated lead humanitarian agency) in resolving the refugee crisis.

The objective of Allied Harbour was to provide humanitarian assistance to a large number of ethnic Albanian refugees. The plan provided for:

• The construction of camps as temporary shelters.
• Technical support to repair roads, airfields and other infrastructure.
• Assistance in the distribution of food and other supplies.
• Support with electronic communication.
• The provision of means of transport for the movement of refugees and medicines.

In the operation, NATO cooperated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Albanian authorities. During the mission, AFOR built or supported the construction of 21 camps, moved and distributed more than 30,000 tonnes of humanitarian assistance material, helped 80,000 refugees, repatriated some 180,000 people.