If the USA’s resolution is adhered to, it will see Khartoum cooperate fully with the African Union (AU), and the Sudanese military flights over Darfur cease.
The international genocide convention was signed by Sudan, and so the country is under an obligation to prevent and punish acts of genocide.
However, Powell said, "To us, at this time, it appears that Sudan has failed to do so.”
A key provision within the genocide convention provides that contracting parties "may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations" to take action to prevent and suppress acts of genocide.
Therefore, Powell said US evidence from forced-interviews on refugees and other sources showed that the "Janjaweed and Sudanese military forces have committed large-scale acts of violence, including murders, rape and physical assaults on non-Arab individuals."
The militia are reported to have destroyed villages, foods and blocked humanitarian aid from getting through to desperate civilians. This is turn has lead to increased deaths and pain.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was told by Powell that "Despite having been put on notice multiple times, Khartoum has failed to stop the violence,"
In efforts to provide more aid in the future for the humanitarian crisis, the committee’s chairman, Dick Lugar, has introduced legislation for the current fiscal year. This will be added to the $600million which has been donated already.
Meanwhile, food aid had been reaching the internally displaced people (IDPs) in refugee camps in south Darfur and northeast Chad through an international Christian Humanitarian Agency.
According to reports, World Vision distributed food rations to more than 17,500 people in Otash last week – the first food to reach the camp in three months. The distribution came after the World Vision commodities team extended operations beyond the Kalma IDP camp (est. pop 83,000) into Otash. The food distributions in Kalma began on August 26, and have continued at a rapid pace, covering the first four sectors of the sprawling camp.
As well as the food rations, World Vision also distributed plastic sheeting, blankets, sleeping mats, water cans and soap to the IDPs. These items were donated by UN-OCHA.
The African Union force being increased was expressed as being a “number one priority” for the USA.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the General Secretary of NATO, said in Helsinki that the alliance should try to work unified, and try to provide assistance to the AU. Currently the AU has several hundred troops in Sudan, and they are overseeing a very flimsy ceasefire.
In concluding, Powell emphasised the importance of global action, "Call it a civil war. Call it ethnic cleansing. Call it genocide. Call it none of the above. The reality is the same: There are people in Darfur who desperately need our help," he said.
