[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.
                                 <all>