[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.