United Nations Security Council Resolution 688

UN Security Council
Resolution 688
UN Security Council; Resolution 688
	Iraqi northern and southern no-fly zones
Date	5 April 1991
Meeting no.	2,982
Code	S/RES/688 (Document)
Subject	Iraq
Voting summary	10 voted for; 3 voted against; 2 abstained;
Result	Adopted
Security Council composition
Permanent members	China; France; United Kingdom; United States; Soviet Union;
Non-permanent members	Austria; Belgium; Cuba; Ecuador; India; Ivory Coast; Romania; Yemen; Zaire; Zimbabwe;

United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, adopted on 5 April 1991, after receiving letters from the representatives of France, Iran, and Turkey and expressing its concern over political repression of the Iraqi people, including those in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Council condemned the repression and demanded that Iraq, as a contribution to removing the threat to international peace and security, end the repression and respect the human rights of its population.

The Council insisted that Iraq allow access by international humanitarian organizations to the areas affected, requesting the Secretary-General to report on the Iraqi and Kurdish populations affected by repression from the Iraqi authorities, using all resources possible to address the needs of the population. It also demanded Iraq co-operate with the Secretary-General and international organizations to assist in humanitarian aid efforts.

The resolution was adopted by ten votes in favor, three votes against (Cuba, Yemen, and Zimbabwe), and two abstentions (the People's Republic of China and India).

France, the United Kingdom, and United States used Resolution 688 to establish Iraqi no-fly zones to protect humanitarian operations in Iraq, though the resolution made no explicit reference to no-fly zones.^[1]