Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council authorised the deployment of a temporary multinational force in Bunia to work in close co-ordination with MONUC until 1 September 2003.[6] It was mandated to assist the MONUC contingent already in Bunia; stabilise the security situation; improve the humanitarian situation; protect Bunia Airport and internally displaced persons; and contribute to the protection of the civilian population, United Nations and humanitarian personnel.[7] It stressed the temporary nature of the force in order to allow MONUC's presence to be reinforced in Bunia by mid-August 2003.