Durbin Amendment Adds $50 Million for Peacekeeping Operations In Darfur
DURBIN AMENDMENT ADDS $50 MILLION FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN DARFUR
Saying that the world must be committed to ending the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was successful today in increasing by $50 million the Administration's request for peacekeeping operations in the region. The amendment was approved by a voice vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"Estimates show that between 200,000 and 400,000 people have died in Darfur and two and a half million people are displaced," Durbin said. "Women have been raped, and children have been brutalized in untold numbers. Approximately 200,000 people are in refugee camps in Chad, and the situation in that country is rapidly deteriorating."
"We have witnessed the genocide and have condemned it. Now, we must act to halt it before another innocent life is lost," Durbin added.
Durbin noted that the President requested $123 million to help maintain the African Union (AU) mission, the only force on the ground in Darfur. Durbin said that while he supports the President's request, he believes it is not sufficient to help the AU meet its goals, while it awaits the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers. That is why Durbin, joined by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), offered an amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations bill to add $50 million to the President's request for peacekeeping operations, increasing the amount to $173 million.
"At last, the United Nations is moving toward action," Durbin said. "The UN is planning and preparing for a peacekeeping force that is expected to be on the ground by the end of the year. In the meantime, we must ensure that the AU mission in Darfur has the resources it needs until it joins forces with the UN."
Durbin's amendment was included in the Supplemental Appropriations bill for emergency funding for the war in Iraq and Katrina recovery. The bill, which Durbin supported, was approved by the Senate Committee today. The House has already passed the Supplemental Appropriations bill, which included the additional $50 million in funding for Darfur as well.
"The AU has played an important role, but stopping genocide is not their responsibility alone: it's the world's. This amendment will provide the funds to support the transition to a UN mission with AU participation," Durbin concluded.
http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=253500&&