[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[July 27, 1992]
[Page 1194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Situation in Somalia

July 27, 1992
    The tragedy in Somalia, where vast numbers of people are suffering 
and dying from famine caused by a senseless civil war, requires the 
urgent attention of the international community. We strongly support the 
proposals of U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to mobilize 
the international community to meet these urgent humanitarian needs and 
to convince the warring Somali factions to end the fighting. We urge the 
Security Council at its meeting today to take the actions needed to 
accelerate the delivery of food and medicine and to promote a peaceful 
settlement of this dispute.
    The United States stands ready to do its part to support these 
efforts. We have committed $63 million over the past 2 years for 
humanitarian relief including airlifts of food and medical supplies. We 
will commit additional resources as needed. However, more must be done 
to create conditions where this vital assistance can reach the people 
who so desperately need it.
    First and foremost, it is imperative that the leaders of the Somali 
factions themselves put the needs of their own people first and allow 
the food to reach all Somalis in need. We urge the United Nations to 
move as quickly as possible to deploy an effective number of security 
guards to permit relief supplies to move into and within Somalia. We are 
prepared to contribute generously to fund such an effort.