Clooney Group Donates $250,000 for Cyclone Victims

The humanitarian organization founded by actor George Clooney and other "Ocean's Thirteen" stars has donated US$250,000 to help children and families in Myanmar affected by Cyclone Nargis.

Not On Our Watch said it will provide an additional matching contribution of up to US$250,000 to the relief agency Save the Children for every dollar donated to its emergency relief fund for cyclone victims.

The nonprofit organization was founded by Clooney, fellow actors Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub and human rights lawyer David Pressman to focus global attention and resources on ending mass atrocities and human rights violations around the world. It has donated millions of dollars to help the 2.5 million people in Darfur uprooted by the five-year conflict .

Alex Wagner, executive director of Not on Our Watch, said the organization chose Save the Children for the donations because it is one of the few aid agencies on the ground in Myanmar and has already helped over 100,000 people around the capital, Yangon, and in the hard-hit Irrawaddy delta, including about 40,000 children under the age of 12.

"Until the military regime prioritizes the welfare of its own citizens and allows full-scale deployment of relief operations, we must continue to support the very few that stand in a position to help combat this crisis," Wagner said in a statement Tuesday.