FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jonathan Hutson, jhutson@enoughproject.org, +1-202-386-1618
WASHINGTON – George Clooney witnessed indiscriminate bombing of civilians in the conflict-torn state of South Kordofan, Sudan during a trip last week with Enough Project Co-founder John Prendergast. A four-minute Enough Project video released today, written and directed by Clooney, documents an aerial attack in the Nuba Mountains and spotlights the urgency for action to stop the targeting of civilians in Sudan.
“This isn’t a war of retaliation, this is simply trying to clear people out ethnically because of the color of their skin,” said Clooney in the video.
South Kordofan, which is home to Sudan’s ethnic minority Nuba people, has been an ongoing target of aerial bombardment by the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF. According to UN estimates, most of the 200,000 Nuba people who remain in South Kordofan are hiding in caves to avoid attacks, cut off from humanitarian aid.
“This is a civilian protection crisis,” said Prendergast in the video. “We talk all the time about the responsibility to protect human life—right here is a ground zero for that responsibility.”
In the video, Clooney takes cover alongside Nuba people as apparent SAF Antonov bombers fly overhead. He speaks to witnesses and victims of recent bombings, and includes footage of a young boy who lost both of his hands while hiding in a cave during an attack.
At the conclusion of the video, the Enough Project urges viewers to take action (Text Sudan to 30644) and send their Member of Congress a message to support the recently-introduced Sudan Peace, Security, and Accountability Act of 2012.
View the video: “George Clooney Witnesses War Crimes in Sudan's Nuba Mountains”
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Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, the Enough Project focuses on crises in Sudan, eastern Congo, and areas of Africa affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Enough’s strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a “3P” crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these crises. For more information, please visit www.enoughproject.org.
