July 16, 2008
Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today introduced a resolution strongly condemning the July 8, 2008 attacks that killed seven and wounded twenty-two United Nations-African Union peacekeepers in the Darfur region of Sudan.
“It is unacceptable that those working to bring peace to Darfur are again the target of violence,” said Chabot. “Innocent men, women and children continue to suffer at the hands of lawless rebels and militia members backed by the Sudanese government. If we expect real peace in Darfur and an end to this humanitarian crisis, the international community must do more to support the African Union peacekeeping force.”
Chabot’s resolution condemns, in the strongest terms, the attack on the UN-AU peacekeepers and expresses condolences to the families of those killed and wounded. It also expresses a commitment to the refugees in Darfur and calls upon the Sudanese government to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. In addition, the resolution expresses support for the UN-AU peacekeepers and the UNAMID mission and calls upon the international community to contribute the resources necessary to ensure the success of the mission.
Last August, Congressman Chabot traveled to Darfur to view the refugee camps and assess the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan. While there, he met with a number of officials to encourage area governments to work toward resolving the conflict in Sudan and bring peace and stability to the region.
