George Clooney testifies before Congress on Sudan

George Clooney testifies on Sudan and South Sudan before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 14, 2012.

/ Getty

(CBS/AP) WASHINGTON - George Clooney testified before Congress on Wednesday, warning of a humanitarian crisis in the volatile border area between Sudan and South Sudan, where residents are taking refuge in the Nuba Mountains because of aerial bombardments.

The actor and human rights activist came to Capitol Hill after returning Tuesday from a visit to the region, where he said there is a "constant drip of fear."

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"We found children filled with shrapnel, including a 9-year-old boy who had both hands blown off," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to CNN. 

After more than two decades of fighting, South Sudan seceded last July and became the world's newest country. But violence has raged along the border since then.

Clooney traveled to Sudan with John Prendergast, the co-founder of the advocacy group the Enough Project, who also testified before Congress Wednesday. Clooney filmed the hardship for a video that was posted online shortly before his testimony.

Earlier, Clooney said on "CBS This Morning" that the Sudanese government was committing "war crimes" in the Nuba Mountains.

"What we're looking at is a real disaster," Clooney told a small group of reporters before testifying at the hearing.

The Academy Award-winning actor brought his star power to an issue that the committee chairman, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., acknowledged captures the public's attention only intermittently.

Clooney acknowledged a "misery fatigue" for Americans amid the war in Afghanistan and crises in Syria, Somalia and elsewhere as he tries to raise awareness about the suffering in South Sudan. But he pointed out that President Barack Obama cited the shutdown of oil in the Sudan region as contributing to the rise in gas prices, and a resolution of the conflict could affect Americans at the pump.

The actor planned to meet with Mr. Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday.

[tonysavage1]

There is killin all over the country but the main guy thats doing all this is the president of the country and he made sure everyone knows that the 2012 kony is bs they don't know that all the facts.

[peacefulperson]

In some ways, he's hurting the cause of the people of South Sudan and Sudan. I'm sure he genuinely cares about them, his sincerity is very clear. But because he is a movie actor with no real credentials, it has the appearance of being about him, and Americans find it all too easy to ignore the politics of celebrities. It seems like he uses the plight of South Sudan to keep his name in the news between movies. That is sad for the people, who think he can make a difference in their lives. The needs in South Sudan are very real, but using his celebrity to promote the cause is backfiring. People get bored when celebs talk and they will not listen to just another actor looking for free publicity. :-(

[tonysavage1]

Wrong he went there and could've been killed,so it doesn't matter now,when you see it first hand you have the right to talk'
Because he is a movie actor we notice more and he knows that.
The bad thing is by involving the united states, we will try to go there take something we need.
We pretend to go somewhere to help but go to take. our government does not do anything for free we the people always are paying so they can take it.
Another thing Clooney has been all over the world trying to change our government from doing stupid moves he knew arab countries were no longer scared of us, see charlie rose interview he went to afghanistan.

[molly_pitcher]

Clooney belongs to the Hollywood 1%, he knows hundrds of people with very deep pockets, Chris Dodd comes to mind since Hollywwod could use some positive PR after the Sopa fiasco. (Where they tried to buy laws fron Congress (another 1% bunch) all the while looking to chip away at the citizens 1st amemdment free speech.
Anyway George seems you have been on this for 3 yrs now get your fellow 1% like Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Julianna Moore, Kevin Spacey, etc to loosen up their millionaire purse strings pay for a school, a medical clinic, displaced housing, free meals. That is how you handle a HUMANITARIAN crisis you dont ask the 99% taxpayers to give their cash & their sons and daughters until you at least put something of your & your friends own on the line... just sayin

[peacefulperson]

Many celebs are very generous to their causes. Others want to manipulate others into giving so they don't have to.

[slatep]

Clooney should have included Somalia in his testimoney..

Somalian terrorists have already taken over the southern part of the country and are hacking and terrorizing those who live in the northern part of the country.

The terrorism in the Sudan and Somalia is nothing short of genocide that has been taking place for years and is most likely to contine for years to come.