[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1245 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1245
Urging the international community to provide the United Nations-
African Union Mission in Darfur with essential tactical and utility
helicopters.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 5, 2008
Mr. Capuano (for himself, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Wolf)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Urging the international community to provide the United Nations-
African Union Mission in Darfur with essential tactical and utility
helicopters.
Whereas on August 30, 2006, the United Nations Security Council approved
Resolution 1706, in which the existing United Nations Mission in Sudan
assumed ``responsibility of supporting the implementation of the Darfur
Peace Agreement'' from the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) upon expiry
of AMIS's mandate;
Whereas on July 31, 2007, the Security Council approved Resolution 1769,
reaffirming Resolution 1706 and stating that the Security Council
authorized and mandated the creation of an African Union (AU) and United
Nations joint operation in Darfur (UNAMID);
Whereas Resolution 1769 allowed for the incorporation of AMIS personnel and
United Nations Heavy and Light Support Packages with up to 19,555
military personnel, including 360 military observers and liaison
officers, and up to 3,772 civilian personnel, including 19 formed police
units of up to 140 members each;
Whereas on December 31, 2007, UNAMID formally assumed control of peacekeeping
operations in Darfur, but did so with only approximately 9,000 troops
and police on the ground, far short of the necessary levels;
Whereas the Government of Sudan continues to obstruct the implementations of
Resolutions 1706 and 1769 in several respects, including by refusing to
cooperate on issues such as the force composition, the authorization of
night flights, communications, land access, and visas for staff;
Whereas on January 7, 2008, uniformed elements of the Sudanese army attacked a
clearly marked UNAMID supply convoy, severely wounding a Sudanese
civilian driver;
Whereas government forces, militias, rebels, bandits, and others continue to
prey upon the people of Darfur and humanitarian workers, increasing the
urgency of both deploying the full complement of peacekeepers and police
and reaching a lasting political settlement;
Whereas the preliminary results of an United Nations assessment entitled ``Food
Security and Nutrition Assessment of the Conflict-Affected Population of
Darfur'' revealed that global acute malnutrition in Darfur increased in
2007, exceeding emergency levels in some regions;
Whereas on April 17, 2008, the United Nations World Food Programme announced a
50 percent cut in food rations to Darfur, as trucks contracted by the
organization were being attacked, preventing the vital food relief from
reaching its intended recipients;
Whereas UNAMID has been hampered not only by obstruction on the part of the
Government of Sudan, but also by the failure of the international
community to commit the resources, equipment, and personnel needed to
carry out the peacekeeping mission, most notably the failure to provide
critically needed aviation and transportation assets;
Whereas UNAMID needs at least 18 utility helicopters and 6 tactical helicopters
and crews, among other critical mobility needs that have not been met;
Whereas in a report to the Security Council dated December 24, 2007, the
Secretary-General said these helicopters were indispensable and
necessary for large distances and rough terrain, and stated, ``Without
the missing helicopters, this mobility--a fundamental requirement for
the implementation of the UNAMID mandate--will not be possible'';
Whereas a large number of countries possess the military assets that could help
to fulfill this requirement;
Whereas the United States continues to lead the world in its contributions to
efforts to end the genocide in Darfur, including by providing more than
$4,500,000,000 since 2004 in response to the Darfur crisis;
Whereas continued failure on the part of the international community to take all
steps necessary to generate, deploy, and maintain an effective United
Nations and African Union joint peacekeeping force will result in the
continued loss of life and further degradation of humanitarian
infrastructure in Darfur; and
Whereas it would be inexcusable for the international community to allow an
authorized peacekeeping mission intended to help bring an end to
genocide and its effects to founder or be compromised because of a
failure to commit critical elements, such as the 24 helicopters needed
to meet the critical mobility capabilities of UNAMID: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) urges the members of the international community,
including the United States, that possess the capability to
provide the tactical and utility helicopters needed for the
United Nations and African Union peacekeeping mission to do so
as soon as possible;
(2) urges the President to personally intervene by
contacting other heads of government and asking them to
contribute the aircraft and crews for the Darfur mission; and
(3) urges the Department of State to organize a special
meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the Friends of
UNAMID working group, and the United Nations Department of
Peacekeeping Operations to resolve outstanding force resource
and equipment issues.
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