NEWSHollywood Stars: Making a Difference in Darfur
March 28 2008, Published 11:09 a.m. ET
Financial contributions from Europe and co-founded by Hollywood actors George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle and Matt Damon will help maintain humanitarian flights in Darfur through April, the United Nations said on Friday.
The $6 million donated by Ireland, the European Union and the Clooney backed Not On Our Watch Charity will allow the U.N.'s World Food Program (WFP) to hire helicopters and other aircraft to ferry aid workers to Sudan's war torn region for 30 more days.
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"We've received some funds which will allow us to maintain the flights for the month of April," WFP spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume said on Friday. "It is vital to maintain the service especially at a time when insecurity still reigns."
The western Sudanese region of Darfur is the site of the world's largest aid operation. International experts estimate five years of conflict have killed 200,000 people and driven 2 1/2 million people from their homes.
