[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[July 29, 1994]
[Pages 1328-1329]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Announcing Further Assistance to Rwandan Refugees and an 
Exchange With Reporters
July 29, 1994

    The President. Good morning. In the past week the United States has 
taken significant steps to alleviate the problems in Rwanda and the 
suffering, the terrible suffering, of the refugees. We have delivered 
more than 1,300 tons of equipment, food, water, and medicine. We have 
increased safe water production and distribution from nothing to 100,000 
gallons a day.
    This relief effort is the most difficult and complex the world has 
faced in decades. I want to commend all those in the field who are 
facing the frustrations and the heroic challenges.
    The United States must do more. Today I have requested that Congress 
immediately provide $320 million in emergency relief assistance. I 
commend Chairman Obey, Chairman Byrd, Senator Leahy, and their 
colleagues for their swift action yesterday in support of the initial 
$50 million of these funds. If Congress approves the balance of our 
request, this would bring total United States assistance since April to 
almost half a billion dollars.
    To monitor our on-the-ground activities in the refugee camps, I have 
asked Secretary Perry to visit the region this weekend and to make an 
immediate report to me upon his findings. We are urgently reviewing 
whether to open a new airfield in Kigali in Rwanda to help deliver 
supplies that are being held up because of the limited airport capacity 
in Zaire.
    Let me be clear about this. Any deployment of United States troops 
inside Rwanda would be for the immediate and the sole purpose of 
humanitarian relief, not for peacekeeping.
    The men and women of our Armed Forces have responded to this tragedy 
with vigor and speed. They have already met the goals we set out last 
week. The Entebbe air hub is operating around the clock. The Goma 
airport is capable of operating 24 hours a day. Transportation between 
airfields and the refugee camps is vastly improved, and as I noted, we 
are expanding water supplies as quickly as we possibly can.
    The United States is also working hard with the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees to create conditions that are necessary for 
the refugees to return home to Rwanda. Assistant Secretary of State 
George Moose will be traveling again to Kigali this weekend to continue 
his talks with the new leadership, and we are hopeful that more refugees 
will be returning

[[Page 1329]]

soon. That is the only solution ultimately to this humanitarian tragedy.
    Yesterday I met with representatives of the world's private relief 
organizations, whose employees and volunteers have converged on the 
refugee camps. The American people should know about the remarkable 
skill and compassion they bring to their work. But they, too, need more 
assistance to continue. And I appeal to all Americans to reach out in 
the form of private contributions to these relief efforts so that more 
people can be kept alive.
    Working together with the international community, both public and 
private, I believe we are making progress in the battle against 
suffering and death on the borders of Rwanda. The United States will not 
cease its efforts until the dying stops and the refugees have returned. 
This is our mission; we must continue it until it's accomplished.
    Before I close, I'd also like to say a word about the terrible 
wildfires that are burning in the West. As of this morning, we had 
reports of 320 fires burning in seven States. The Interagency Fire 
Command Center in Boise reports that the Federal Government has 
mobilized more than 330 fire crews and more than 200 fire engines, 
helicopters, and air tankers. Two battalions of marines have begun 
training today and will be deployed to fight the fires as soon as 
possible. Our hearts go out to all those who have been displaced or who 
have lost property in these fires.
    The Federal Government will continue to monitor the situation 
closely, to marshal the necessary resources, and to coordinate the 
firefighting efforts. This is a deeply troubling development, but we 
will do all we can to help them deal with it.
    Now I'd like to turn the briefing over to the National Security 
Adviser, Mr. Lake, and to General Shalikashvili to discuss the 
operations in Rwanda in greater detail, and to answer whatever questions 
you have.
    Q. How do you feel about the French going out of Rwanda, Mr. 
President?
    Q. What about mission creep?
    Q. How many troops would have to go if there are troops who have to 
go to Kigali, Mr. President?
    The President. You've asked me three questions. I want to let 
General Shalikashvili respond to Andrea's [Andrea Mitchell, NBC News] 
question.
    I don't think that--mission creep is not a problem here. And General 
Shalikashvili will explain why that is. We've had a long talk--we just 
completed about an hour and 45 minutes national security principals 
meeting this morning. And I do not believe that that is a problem.
    With regard to--the French will have to make whatever decision they 
make. But I do believe you will have large numbers of people 
contributing to this humanitarian effort. I was most deeply moved when 
we met yesterday at some length and the general and Mr. Lake and others 
briefed the representatives of the nongovernmental organizations. I am 
deeply moved by the number of volunteer organizations, many of them 
American citizens, who are there working. I think everyone knows this is 
a humanitarian effort, and it will be kept at that.

Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in the Briefing Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Sadako Ogata, United Nations 
High Commissioner for Refugees.