Military

1. (U) SITUATION: The purpose of this CONPLAN is to assist in the evacuation of NGOs and IOs from the TFE AOR. The Dayton Peace Agreement placed upon IFOR the responsibility for the establishment of a militarily secure environment in which civil agencies could carry out their mission. Should the threat to NGOs and IOs increase, MND(N) may be required to provide security for, and/or assist in, the safe and orderly evacuation of some or all of these individuals to safety within B-H or safe havens outside of B-H. This CONPLAN covers operations across the AOR but its principles apply to brigade- or battalion-level areas. Units will be prepared to execute this CONPLAN until the end of the IFOR mission. Parallel planning with NGOs and IOs in brigade sectors should be initiated A list of the organizations these agencies represent is at Appendix A. As the election approaches, the number of IO and NGO personnel is expected to reach over 2,700 in TFE AOR

b. Assumptions:

(1) (U) Sufficient warning of an increase in threat permits NGO/IO personnel to move to IFOR bases to seek security.

(2) (U) NGO/IO, higher headquarters, national governments, or other external organizations will assume control of, and responsibility for, evacuees at the conclusion of Phase II or Phase III, as applicable.

2. (U) MISSION: No change.

3. (U) EXECUTION:

a. (U) Concept of Operations. (U) General Concept. NGO/IO assemble their employees and move them to pre-arranged rally points (base camps) in brigade sectors. If required, brigades/TFE will assist the movement of the evacuees to consolidation points. From these collection points, the NGO/IO personnel may be evacuated by air and ground to safe havens outside B-H.

b. (U) Scheme of Maneuver. (U) Phases. This operation can comprise up to four phases. These phases are not related to the base FRAGO on Elections, but are related only to this CONPLAN.

(1) (U) Phase I. Planning, preparation, and liaison with NGO/IOs in sector. We are in this phase now. Units should attempt to make widest dissemination of this plan to NGO/IOs in their sector and conduct rehearsals of this plan.

(2) (U) Phase II. Assembly of NGO/IO personnel at rally points (base camps) in brigade areas. During this phase, NGO/IOs will assemble at base camps made knowN to them through G5/S5 channels, and previous briefings and rehearsals of this plan. Instructions will be provided from TFE on the extent of life support provided to NGO/IOs at these locations as well as plans for further evacuation to brigade/TFE consolidation points and onward movement to safe havens outside Bosnia-Herzegovina (to be determined by HQ ARRC). NGO/IOs can elect not to participate in any aspects of this CONPLAN, but MAY do so at their own risk. NGO/IOs wishing to be evacuated, however, must comply with instructions given to them by TFE units. Once under the control of TFE for the purpose of security in base camps and evacuation, these persons receive special protection under current ROE.

(3) (U) Phase III. Consolidation at brigade and TFE points. Once a decision has been made by HQ ARRC for further evacuation from TFE AOR, NGO/IOs will be sent to secure brigade consolidation points and TFE secure consolidation points based on a determination of the means of further evacuation (ground or air or both) and the location of "safe havens" provide by HQ ARRC. Consolidation points are intended to be centralized transload points to facilitate movement out of the AOR. Therefore, units should synchronize the movement of personnel to these points with the arrival of transportation assets to minimize congestion at these points. If the threat level in certain areas is such that NGO/IOs should be relocated, brigades should move personnel to consolidation points. All moves must be closely coordinated and controlled with G3 and DTO.

(4) (U) Phase IV. Onward movement to "Safe Havens." On direction from HQ ARRC, NGO/IO personnel will be evacuated to Eagle Base to meet fixed-wing transport, or moved by ground with Corps or TFE transportation assets. Safe Havens have not been identified by ARRC or IFOR, but are expected to be population centers on TFE air or ground lines LOCs outside Bosnia-Herzegovina (e.g., Slavonski Brod, Zagreb, or Tasar).

c. Tasks:

(1) (U) Ground holding brigades (1st Bde, 2d Bde, 18th MP Bde, NordPol Bde, Russian Bde, Turkish Bde).

(a) (U) Establish and maintain liaison with NGO/IO in sector and disseminate unclassified information concerning this plan. Conduct external rehearsals of this CONPLAN if 1, ongoing GFAP tasks and election tasks permit and 2, NGOs are willing to participate. Conduct internal staff rehearsals NLT 26 Aug 96.

(b) (U) Ensure NGO/IOs operating in sector know where they are to assemble for this CONPLAN.

(c) (U) Ensure TFE G5 and CIMIC are kept up to date (at least on a weekly basis) of the NGOs/IOs operating in brigade sector (relative location and number of personnel).

(d) (U) Identify rally points and consolidation points to G3 Plans if not done so already.

(2) (U) G4 DTO. Be prepared to plan, prepare, and execute transportation of NGOs from brigade rally points to brigade or division consolidation points or out of AOR via ground or air with ARRC or Division assets. Further evacuation will be based on the situation and identification of "safe havens" outside of TFE AOR by HQ ARRC.

(3) (U) G5.

(a) (U) Continue to refine information on NGOs in TFE AOR and pass to ground-holding brigades.

(b) (U) Obtain and reproduce NGO/IO evacuation plans (esp. UNHCR) and redistribute to ground-holding brigades and G3 Operations DMAIN and DREAR.

(c) (U) Develop and exercise notification procedures in G5/S5 CA channels to ensure NGO/IOs are aware of this CONPLAN, and can be contacted quickly in the event of execution.

(d) (U) Be prepared to inform principal civil agencies, within operational security constraints, of threat levels to NGO/IO (coordinate with G2).

(e) (U) Ensure NGO/IO organizations understand accreditation policies from HQ ARRC which allow personnel access to IFOR bases for the purpose of this CONPLAN. Current standards are found in Annex C(NGO/IO Accreditation System) to Reference A above.

(4) (U) PAO/JIB. On order, publicize to NGOs/IOs, through broadcast media, the execution of this plan.

d. Coordinating Instructions.

(1) (U) Activation. Activation of each phase of this CONPLAN will be on order of COMEAGLE. Issuance of evacuation advisory notice to NGO/IO requires notification of HQ ARRC.

(2) (U) Mission Duration. The duration of this mission is a function of the threat level, the number of NGOs seeking assistance, and transportation assets available. Current estimates for such an evacuation given approximately 2,700 NGOs is 3 to 10 days to consolidate at brigade consolidation points, and 4 to 12 days to move NGOs out of the country to safe havens to be identified by HQ ARRC. Total possible mission duration is 22 days.

(3) (U) Approval. The timely approval and resourcing of evacuation transport can directly influence timing of execution and mission duration.

(4) (U) Evacuation. Evacuation will occur following receipt of authorization from COMIFOR and establishment of processing centers by supporting higher headquarters, national elements, or NGO/IO elements.

(5) (U) If activation of Phase II has not occurred, but NGO/IO personnel seek security from IFOR, the brigade commander will make the decision to act as the situation warrants. Brigades may provide security for accredited NGO/IO personnel who seek security at rally points, pending confirmation from TFE that this CONPLAN has been activated. Otherwise, commanders will release "unsolicited" NGO/IO personnel.

(6) (U) It is the responsibility of NGO/IO to assemble evacuees at rally points.

(7) (U) All accredited international employees or members of NGO/IO possessing ID cards will be provided security and/or evacuated. However, the decision to accept or refuse any person is that of the commander on the ground.

(8) (U) Accredited B-H nationals possessing ID cards issued by the agencies provided security under this CONPLAN will be provided security at rally points but will not be further evacuated without direction from COMARRC.

(9) (U) Authority for evacuation under Phase III is COMIFOR.

(10) (U) Evacuees may carry one piece of baggage per evacuee, weighing no more than 35 pounds.

(11) (U) Base commanders will not allow NGO/IO vehicles to come so close to bases as to pose a threat. Personnel and baggage must be searched to ensure security in the base camp. Those NGOs/IOs unwilling to comply with these requirements must be turned away.

4. (U) SERVICE SUPPORT. Be prepared to provide emergency shelter, medical care and evacuation, rations, water, fuel, maintenance, and recovery, to evacuees, on a cost recovery basis, for a minimum of three days in assembly areas and for three days in consolidation points. All costs related to the execution of this plan must be captured for possible reimbursement. Submit reports per Appendix 7 (Cost Capture Form) to Annex C (Operations) to FRAGO No. 1518 "Elections FRAGO 2." Brigades will not increase their supply stocks or life support means for the purpose of this CONPLAN unless further instructed to do so by TFE.

5. (U) COMMAND AND SIGNAL. Normally, notification of execution for this CONPLAN will be from higher headquarters. However, if brigades perceive the need to allow NGOs to come into base camps, they must request approval from TFE. Once the decision has been made to execute this CONPLAN, all levels of command must be made aware. NGOs must be notified through a variety of means including G5/S5 channels, the CIMIC, and appropriate media. UNHCR is the lead nonmilitary agency for evacuation of NGOs in and around the TFE sector; however, some NGOs have no affiliation with UNHCR.

Appendix H: Election Support Logistics Summary

Acknowledgements