A resolution urging the international community to provide the United Nations-African Union Mission in Sudan with essential tactical and utility helicopters.

Whereas, on August 30, 2006, the United Nations Security Council approved United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706, providing that the existing United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) shall take over from [the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS)] responsibility for supporting the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement upon the expiration of AMIS' mandate but in any event no later than 31 December 2006;

Whereas, on July 31, 2007, the United Nations Security Council approved United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 reaffirming Resolution 1706 and stating that the Security Council [d]ecides … to authorise and mandate the establishment … of an AU/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) … [and] [d]ecides that UNAMID, which shall incorporate AMIS personnel and the UN Heavy and Light Support Packages to AMIS, shall consist of up to 19,555 military personnel, including 360 military observers and liaison officers, and an appropriate civilian component including up to 3,772 police personnel and 19 formed police units comprising up to 140 personnel each;

Whereas, on December 31, 2007, the United Nations-African Union hybrid mission 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 both the authorized and necessary levels;

Whereas the Government of Sudan continues to obstruct implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1706 and 1769 in several respects, including by refusing to conclude a Status of Forces Agreement or to cooperate on issues such as the force composition, the authorization of night flights, customs clearance, land access, and visas for staff;

Whereas, on January 7, 2008, uniformed elements of the army of Sudan attacked a clearly marked UNAMID supply convoy, severely wounding a Sudanese civilian driver;

Whereas rebels, militias, government forces, bandits, and others continue to prey upon the people of Darfur and upon humanitarian workers, increasing the urgency of both deploying the full complement of peacekeepers and police and of reaching a lasting political settlement;

Whereas the preliminary results of a United Nations assessment entitled the Food Security and Nutrition Assessment of the Conflict-Affected Population of Darfur (August/September 2007) reveal that global acute malnutrition in Darfur increased in 2007, exceeding emergency levels in some regions;

Whereas the United Nations-African Union Mission in Sudan has been hampered not only by obstruction by the Government of Sudan and other obstacles to peace in the region, but by the failure of the international community to commit the resources, equipment, and personnel needed to carry out the peacekeeping mission, most notably the failure to provide critically needed aviation and transportation assets;

Whereas the United Nations-African Union Mission in Sudan needs, among other critical mobility capabilities that have not been met, 18 utility helicopters and 6 tactical helicopters and crews;

Whereas, in a report to the Security Council dated December 24, 2007, the Secretary-General termed these helicopters indispensable and stated that UNAMID must be capable of rapid mobility over large distances, especially over terrain where roads are the exception. 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 $4,500,000,000 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-African Union hybrid peacekeeping force will result in the continued loss of life and further degradation of humanitarian infrastructure in Darfur; and

Whereas it would be inexcusable for the international community to allow an authorized peacekeeping mission intended to help bring an end to genocide and its effects to founder or be compromised because of a failure to commit critical elements, such as the 24 helicopters needed to meet the critical mobility capabilities of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Sudan: Now, therefore, be it