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- The 1991 uprisings in Iraq were a series of anti-governmental intifada (rebellions) in Southern and Northern Iraq during the aftermath of the Gulf War in March–April 1991. On 16 May 1991, 75 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were deployed to Kurdistan, northern Iraq on Operation Habitat, Australia's contribution to the multinational response known as Operation Provide Comfort. The goal of this mission was to defend approximately 4 million Kurdish people fleeing their homes in the aftermath of the Gulf War and supply them with humanitarian aid. When the ADF contingent arrived, the situation was improving but was far from normal. The Kurds were living in tents located on the side of the road or in their destroyed villages. Poor water supply and sanitation was a major problem. Temperatures were in the high 40s to low 50s °C and high tens during the night. Accommodation for the ADF personnel consisted of canvas tents. The ADF contingent was located at Gir-i-Pit, approximately 30 km north of Dahak in northern Iraq. Four medical teams of five personnel each were deployed, each consisting of a medical officer, nursing officer and three medical assistants. Each team had an interpreter attached. A dental team, preventative health team, engineering section and headquarters/administration support group were also deployed. Personnel were sourced primarily from the 2nd Field Ambulance of the Operational Deployment Force (the 3rd Brigade) in Townsville and from various units in the ADF including members from the 1st Health Support Battalion (1HSB). ADF medical teams operated in an area approximately 500 km2. While one medical team remained at base, the other three medical teams would travel approximately 200 km and treat 60–100 patients each day. More than 3,000 patients were seen by the ADF medical teams, with over 80% of those being paediatric. The common conditions treated included diarrhoea, dehydration, malnutrition, scabies, respiratory tract infections, malaria, typhoid fever, anaemia, and a range of chronic diseases. Fragmentation injuries were also seen due to the vast number of land mines and unexploded ammunition littered across the countryside. According to Little and Hodge, by the time the ADF personnel had completed Operation Habitat on 30 June 1991, life for the Kurdish people was returning to normal and health in the region was rapidly improving. Kurds were returning to their farms, rebuilding their villages and the children were going back to school. (en)
- L'Operazione Habitat è un'operazione militare australiana in territorio iracheno dove furono impiegati 75 uomini dell'Australian Defence Force con lo scopo di difendere le popolazioni curde e fornire loro aiuti umanitari (Operazione Provide Comfort). All'arrivo dei militari i Curdi vivevano in tende ai lati della strada o in villaggi distrutti ma i veri problemi riguardavano i rifornimenti, l'acqua e i medicinali. Il 16 maggio 1991 il contingente australiano venne stanziato a 30 chilometri dalla città di Dahuk nel nord dell'Iraq. I militari insediarono 4 tende mediche con un personale di 5 uomini ciascuna (un ufficiale medico, un ufficiale infermiere e tre assistenti più un interprete). Furono insediati inoltre una tenda dentistica, una di prevenzione medica, una di ingegneri ed una come quartier generale. Le squadre mediche dovevano coprire una zona di 500 chilometri quadrati. Mentre una squadra rimaneva alla base, le altre viaggiavano anche per 200 chilometri curando 60-100 persone ogni giorno. Più di 3 000 persone furono curate di cui circa l'80% erano bambini. I disturbi più curati furono diarrea, disidratazione, malnutrizione, scabbia, infezioni respiratorie ricorrenti, malaria, tifo e anemia. I militari australiani dovettero curare inoltre molte ferite dovute allo scoppio di bombe e mine antiuomo. Il 30 giugno 1991 la missione si concluse e il livello di vita dei Curdi tornò alla normalità. I villaggi vennero ricostruiti, gli adulti tornarono al lavoro e i bambini poterono ricominciare ad andare a scuola. (it)
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