Lowey Calls For Immediate, Effective Enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution on Darfur

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), the Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, today issued the following statement regarding the UN Security Council Resolution to deploy 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur.

“I am pleased by the passage of a UN Security Council Resolution to deploy 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur, but I am disappointed that the resolution has been watered down.

“Now is the time for action and diligence. President Bashir continuously reneges on his promises and commitments, and we must follow through expeditiously on implementing this resolution.

“Almost a year ago, for the first time in UN history, no troops were deployed following passage of a UN Security Council Resolution authorizing deployment of troops to Darfur. We cannot allow that to happen again.

“It has been over three years since the U.S. Congress declared there to be genocide in Darfur; over 400,000 people have died, and over 2.5 million are displaced. Humanitarian access is deteriorating, and large swaths of the population are out of reach.

“We absolutely must take advantage of this window of opportunity and mobilize these 26,000 troops immediately. Time is not on our side.”