    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [August 1, 1994]
    [Pages 1406-1407]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1406]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Humanitarian Assistance for
    Rwandan Refugees
    August 1, 1994

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Since August 1993, when a fragile peace was signed between Rwandan
    Government Forces (RGF) and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the
    United Nations has been actively addressing the humanitarian crisis in
    Rwanda. On April 6, 1994, President Habyarimana of Rwanda, President
    Ntaryamira of Burundi and a number of government officials were killed
    when their plane crashed while approaching the airport in Kigali,
    Rwanda's capital. This incident ruptured the peace and led to a
    resumption of the civil war that has now resulted in the deaths of
    hundreds of thousands of Rwandans, many of them Tutsi civilians who were
    the victims of genocide on the part of radical Hutu elements aligned
    with the former government.
        In early July 1994, the government fell and the RPF assumed power in
    Kigali, establishing a multi-party government. Since that time they have
    cooperated fully with us and have even requested human rights monitors
    to better assure the safety of returning refugees. As a result of the
    Civil War, the nation's infrastructure has been virtually destroyed. An
    estimated 2.1 million Rwandan refugees have fled to neighboring Zaire,
    Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania, and the United Nations High Commissioner
    for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that a further 2.6 million persons are
    internally displaced.
        The need to respond to disease, starvation, and dehydration in the
    refugee camps, especially in Zaire and Burundi, led me on July 29, 1994,
    to direct the expansion of capabilities at the Kigali airport to support
    the UNHCR relief operation more effectively. By providing a support
    infrastructure for the relief of refugees and displaced persons out of
    this capital city, I believe we will be better able to draw Rwandans
    back to their homes, away from the unsanitary conditions of the refugee
    camps, and closer to a more centralized distribution point for
    humanitarian aid. We have engaged in negotiations with the new
    government in order to promote these objectives. We have urged this new
    government to broaden its political base, refrain from retribution,
    respect the rule of law, and otherwise create the conditions of safety
    and security that would permit the refugees to return home.
        In the afternoon of July 29, 1994, I directed General Joulwan,
    Commander in Chief, United States European Command, in addition to the
    relief operations he is already conducting through Goma, Zaire and
    Entebbe, Uganda, immediately deploy a contingent of U.S. forces,
    numbering approximately 200, to the airport at Kigali. These forces
    began to arrive on July 30, 1994. Other forces from Australia and the
    United Kingdom are committed to this effort in Kigali as well. During
    this initial phase of ``Operation Support Hope,'' the United States and
    other committed nations will establish and operate a logistics base to
    support UNHCR humanitarian relief operations. In this effort, they will
    open a logistic coordination center for receiving and distributing
    relief supplies, provide airfield services and cargo handling, and
    provide security for the airport at Kigali. These efforts are directed
    at achieving the objectives of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 929,
    925 and 918. No organized resistance has been encountered to our efforts
    to date and none is expected.
        United States Armed Forces will remain in Rwanda only as long as
    necessary to assist the UNHCR in establishing an effective distribution
    mechanism for humanitarian relief support to the Rwandan people. While
    it is not possible to estimate precisely how long it will take to
    satisfy this requirement, we believe that prolonged operations will not
    be necessary.
        We do not intend that U.S. Armed Forces deployed to Rwanda become
    involved in hostilities. Nonetheless, a majority of the approximately
    200 personnel deployed will be assigned to provide force protection and
    assure security of the Kigali airport. These security forces are
    equipped and ready to take such measures as may be needed to accomplish
    their humanitarian mission and defend themselves if necessary.
        I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional authority
    to conduct our foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief
    Executive. I am providing this report consistent with the War Powers
    Resolution in accordance with my desire that the Congress be fully in-

    [[Page 1407]]

    formed. I look forward to cooperating with the Congress in this effort
    to relieve human suffering.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Robert C. Byrd, President pro tempore of
    the Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on August 2.