UN/DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Actor George Clooney tells the United Nations that they are the only hope in war-torn Darfur

Record ID: 1547600

  • Title: UN/DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Actor George Clooney tells the United Nations that they are the only hope in war-torn Darfur
  • Date: 1st February 2008
  • Summary: UNITED NATIONS (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING UNITED NATIONS
  • Embargoed: 16th February 2008 11:36
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA96WK84EDWDS2TOQ2NNPRZP6DD
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: One week after visiting Sudan and other parts of Africa, actor George Clooney tells the United Nations that they are the only hope in war-torn Darfur.
    Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker George Clooney said the time is now for the United Nations to help end the bloodshed in Darfur. Clooney spoke at the United Nations on Thursday (January 31). This was the first visit for Clooney since he was appointed Messenger of Peace by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier this month.
    While at the United Nations, Clooney posed for pictures with his parents and shook hands with excited crowds. He was also presented with a plaque to honor his service as Messenger of Peace.
    Clooney also briefed the U.N. on his recent tour of Darfur, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Clooney and members of the United Nations toured the war-torn areas earlier this year.
    He told a news conference,
    "Let us be clear, as we traveled to north, south, and west Darfur, Al Fashir, Nyala, Salinge, there was not one man, woman, or child at any of these camps, at any of these locations, that didn't hold the government of Sudan, or its Janjaweed-supported militia responsible for them being displaced. Not one. Millions are homeless, not from famine, or disease, or acts of God, but from a well-armed militia intent on ridding the land of its people. That's a fact. That's not speculation.
    You can have an opinion on why, you can have an opinion on what it should be called, but you can not dispute the fact."
    Clooney also challenged the United Nations to bring peace to Sudan. He said,
    "When I stood in the hospital next to women who had been raped and set on fire two days earlier, they looked up to me and said, 'Please send the U.N.' Not the U.S., not China, not Russia, just the U.N. You are their only hope."
    Clooney also said the job of restoring peace to Darfur will not be easy. He said,
    "It's not just as simple as going in and fix it. We'd like to think it is. I use to think it was that simple, but it's not. So what it comes down to now rather than alienating everyone, even if you don't get along or you don't like them, you try to find common ground, and say how about if we do this?"
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