George Clooney leads way on Darfur with cash donation
Story by Jack Foley
ACTOR and UN Messenger of Peace George Clooney has reportedly donated a massive £250,000 to help the troubled Darfur region.
The generous sum was raised by Clooney and Ocean’s co-stars Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle through their charity, Not On Our Watch, which was founded by the Hollywood A-listers.
According to a report in Hello magazine, the money will go towards the UN World Food Programme to help it continue threatened relief flights in Sudan.
Clooney, who recently visited the region in his capacity as a UN peace messenger, said: “This is a critical time for the programme. Without immediate additional funding, humanitarian aid in the region will be crippled.”
The Darfur conflict – which has long been of personal interest to Clooney – began in 2003, when a rebellion by local groups triggered a counter-offensive by the army and government-backed Arab militias.
Recent figures estimate that more than 200,000 people have died in the region, while 2.5 million are homeless. Rape and murder is still widespread.
Not On Our Watch has raised in exces of £4.5 million for Darfur, with Clooney and company remaining tirelessly committed to campaigning on behalf of the area.
The latest contribution comes just weeks after actress Drew Barrymore wrote a personal cheque for £500,000 to the World Food Programme.
Barrymore, who is an ambassador for the organisation, urged others to help feed children in Africa, saying that she had seen “the difference a cup of porridge makes in a child’s life”. The actress made the revelation the Oprah Winfrey Show.