How well you cope depends on how well you adapt.

Major John Bruno believes in peacekeeping and peace monitoring.

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Lieutenant Paul Longley served as part of the UNOSOM force in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 and outlined what you 'do and don't' need to make life more bearable in 30 to 40 degree heat and 80 to 90% humidity.

What to bring to a Peacekeeping operation:

"There are 2 civil concessionaires who sell cheap grog and smokes but stuff all else. There are no shops in Somalia, only markets which you would risk your life visiting anyway. You can generally get anything you want in Nairobi. Film is cheap for instance, but it can be difficult getting there due to work commitments.

Bring:

1. 6 months supply of toiletries
2. writing material
3. webbing
4. mozzie net
5. liner sleeping bag, or sheets or both
6. pillow slip and pillow
7. helmet
8. flak jacket
9. limited casual civvies. Mostly PT kit and for leave
10. thongs, runners
11. many sets DPCU
12. US Dollars
13. Raincoat
14. Something to fill in spare time, if you have any
15. Personal medical kit

What not to bring:

1. Pullovers of any description, except for leave
2. field pack, sleeping bag, tools entrenching, machete
3. uniforms other than DPCU"

Captain Ian Young was also in Somalia in 1993, but as part of the UNITAF operation.

DIARY ENTRY EXTRACT SATURDAY 17 APRIL, 1993 - CAPTAIN IAN YOUNG

"Somali's (and Africans in general) have a much lower value on the meaning of life - the dilemma a lot of the medical staff over here have faced is when to release patients to go home - there have been many cases of patients that have been cured of their main disease or injury to be sent home to rest and finish their recovery only to die (usually from starvation and complications) because their families are large, resources are few and the sick are often seen as a high risk burden not worthy of scarce food etc, so the priorities go to those who have the most chance of survival. As I said earlier there really is a different value and philosophy of life over here that is hard for us to understand coming from our comfortable western lifestyles. I don't feel guilty for the way we live or anything like that, its just an appreciation that life is different."

George Gittoes tells of Australian women serving in the peacekeeping forces in predominantly Muslim Somalia.

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