The United Nations recently described the crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur as being the worst humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in the world.
The U.S. government and international community as a whole have a responsibility to do everything possible to help out with the humanitarian effort in the region.The U.S. has provided over $768 million in humanitarian assistance to Darfur as of April 2006 and will continue to monitor the situation and act as necessary. The U.S. has worked closely with the UN and its allies to maximize humanitarian effort in Sudan. Unfortunately, the international community’s response to the Darfur crisis has been hindered by the government of Sudan’s repeated refusal to allow relief workers into Darfur.
The House is currently considering several bills, including H.R. 1424, which urges imposition of sanctions against the government of Sudan and authorizes the use of force, and H.R. 3127, which calls for protection of civilians in Darfur. Sanctions and international monitoring, combined with an extensive humanitarian effort, represent the most appropriate course of action at this time.I will continue to support bills that will accomplish an end to the atrocities in Darfur.
