H. Res. 1351 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

July 30, 2008. 

Whereas on July 8, 2008, 7 peacekeepers serving under the 

United Nations/African Union Hybrid operation in 

Darfur (UNAMID) were killed and another 22 wounded, 

including 7 critically, while carrying out UNAMID operations in Sudan in an effort to bring stability and security to the region; 

Whereas the attacks on July 8, 2008, were the latest, and 

most severe, in a string of attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers, which include an attack on June 30, 2008, when 

38 peacekeepers were taken hostage by rebels and on 

April 9, 2008, when a UNAMID police officer was beaten 

and UNAMID vehicles hijacked; 

Whereas on June 25, 2008, the United Nations announced 

that UNAMID lacked critical resources, including troops, 

police officers, and air transport, hindering UNAMID’s 

effectiveness; 

Whereas the United Nations announcement on June 25, 

2008, restated concerns recognized in October 2007, that 

the shortage of resources could ‘‘jeopardize its efforts to 

stabilize a region’’; 

Whereas on July 31, 2007, the United Nations Security 

Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1769 author-
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izing the deployment of 26,000 peacekeeping troops to 

the region; 

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 since that time UNAMID efforts have been thwarted by the Sudanese regime and rebels, including by 

Khartoum’s refusal to cooperate on issues such as the 

force composition, the authorization of night flights, communications, land access, and visas for staff, as well as 

its recent threats to force the complete withdrawal of the 

UNAMID mission; 

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 following attacks on its supply trucks, the World 

Food Program announced a 50 percent cut in urgently 

needed food rations in Darfur, despite a United Nations 

assessment that revealed that acute malnutrition in 

Darfur increased in 2007, exceeding emergency levels in 

some regions; 

Whereas UNAMID has been hampered not only by obstruction on the part of the regime in Khartoum, but also by 

the failure of the international community to commit the 

resources, equipment, aviation and transportation assets, 

and personnel needed to carry out the peacekeeping mission; 
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Whereas UNAMID requires the 26,000 troops authorized by 

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 and 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 $4.5 billion of assistance 

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 contribute to the 

continued loss of life and further degradation of humanitarian infrastructure in Darfur; and 

Whereas the success of the mission is dependant upon the 

support and contributions of Member States and the 

international community, including by providing the helicopters needed to meet UNAMID’s critical mobility capabilities, as well as the will of the parties to the conflict 

to find a lasting, inclusive, political solution to the crisis: 

Now, therefore, be it 
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Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) condemns in the strongest terms the attack on 

the United Nations/African Union Hybrid operation in 

Darfur (UNAMID) peacekeepers and expresses its condolences to the people of Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda, 

and to the families and friends of those killed and 

wounded; 

(2) calls for the parties responsible for these heinous attacks to be brought to justice; 

(3) expresses its commitment to the Darfuri people; 

(4) expresses support for UNAMID and the 

UNAMID peacekeepers; 

(5) deplores the efforts of the regime in Khartoum 

to manipulate and obstruct the deployment of a credible 

peacekeeping force, including the recent threats by 

Khartoum to force the complete withdrawal of the mission; 

(6) urges the President to continue to personally intervene by contacting other heads of government and 

asking them to contribute the aircraft and crews for the 

Darfur mission; 

(7) 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 
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Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations to resolve outstanding force resource and equipment issues; 

(8) urges the members of the international community, including the United States, to contribute the resources necessary to ensure the success of UNAMID, including tactical and utility helicopters; and 

(9) calls upon the parties to the conflict in Darfur 

to immediately commit to and respect a binding cessations of hostilities agreement and seize upon the opportunity that has been afforded by the deployment of 

UNAMID to find a political solution to the crisis in 

Darfur. 

Attest: 

Clerk.