Apparently shocked by the appalling conditions in the refugee camps she visited last August, Oscar winning actress Angelina Jolie was visibly horrified at the failure to address any of the issues raised about the camps 6 months ago; and frustrated that the situation has taken a turn for the worse. Her February 7 visit brought to life what she has been receiving in terms of documented reports that she couldn't put a handle to. Assistance to the Refugees had been fragmented and extremely inadequate. While choosing her words carefully, it was obvious that she felt governments involved in the refugee situation had no coherent and integrated approach to the crisis; that only lip service was being supplied, and a generous distribution of talk has occurred since August, but actions were invisible.
During this February trip, she was moved by the refugee's stories about their plight, the conditions within the camps, the sheer volume of displaced people (4.2 million Iraqis ) 2.0 million of which are in neighboring states and another 2.2 million displaced inside Iraq, 58 % of whom are children below 12 years old. She worries that those inside war torn Iraq are very very vulnerable. Provisions for food, water, sanitation, health and hygiene, and medicines are sorely wanting at the sites, and she stressed that this humanitarian crisis needs the immediate help and support of the global community. Returning to their homes which others now occupy, homes that have been bombed out, the absence of schools, water, electrical, and medical facilities, and no means of conducting livelihood or economic activity, will create problems in the Middle East that could affect the entire global community. Jolie expressed concern at how the situation is settled and the refugees brought together to live normal community lives. She referred to these as "pieces that need to be put together " and has called for more active participation from the UNHCR inside Iraq.
Since her appointment as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Angelina Jolie has traveled to some 20 countries including Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Namibia, and Chad at her own expense. Proceeds from her book "Notes From My Travels" are used to assist refugees, and one third of all her income goes to charity. She has also adopted a Cambodian boy from an orphanage (Maddox) and an Ethiopian girl (Zahara).
Angelina Jolie has risked her life visiting these countries and to generate awareness for the impact of wars that forces people to live under sub-human conditions. In Iraq, she has had to meet with the governments of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq; their NGOs and civilian communities to convince them to increase the pace with which assistance is provided. The UNHCR seeks US $261 million for these refugees and has more than 350 staffers directly engaged in Iraq and the surrounding region. Considering the sheer volume of people involved and the many issues and concerns that need urgent attention, the amount is a pittance.
This refugee situation was borne out of the sectarian conflict between Shiite and
Sunni Muslims sparked by an attack on a Shiite shrine in Samarra; and has brought these millions of people to live very dangerously under conditions of extreme squalor. The refugee camps and the almost total absence of security within and around these camps, where men, women and children live constantly in fear of losing their lives from unseen enemies as well as famine and disease; is ripe for infiltration by the forces of terror, who could use the conditions for recruitment and indoctrination. This is the fear that Jolie expresses but does not say. A conclusion, drawn from being at the site and seeing and hearing it first hand from sources inside - sources who have been approached and possibly intimidated, to join.
It is safe to say that Angelina Jolie has done so much, more than her share in fact, and now asks for support from the global community. The support is not for herself
nor the refugees alone, but for the world at large; since the expansion of terrorism is now a global malaise. The US led War on Terror has succeeded in terrorizing more than 5 million civilian citizens in Iraq, not to mention those in Afghanistan. Yet the US wants to continue the war since indications point to a victory. Perhaps a victory for their egos but not for the hazy cause of why it was fought. When will the lies about the war end?
The legacy of this war and what it leaves behind may soon be upon the world, the rise in the number of terrorists and acts of terrorism. So much for victory...
Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twooooooph...Ting!
During this February trip, she was moved by the refugee's stories about their plight, the conditions within the camps, the sheer volume of displaced people (4.2 million Iraqis ) 2.0 million of which are in neighboring states and another 2.2 million displaced inside Iraq, 58 % of whom are children below 12 years old. She worries that those inside war torn Iraq are very very vulnerable. Provisions for food, water, sanitation, health and hygiene, and medicines are sorely wanting at the sites, and she stressed that this humanitarian crisis needs the immediate help and support of the global community. Returning to their homes which others now occupy, homes that have been bombed out, the absence of schools, water, electrical, and medical facilities, and no means of conducting livelihood or economic activity, will create problems in the Middle East that could affect the entire global community. Jolie expressed concern at how the situation is settled and the refugees brought together to live normal community lives. She referred to these as "pieces that need to be put together " and has called for more active participation from the UNHCR inside Iraq.
Since her appointment as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Angelina Jolie has traveled to some 20 countries including Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Namibia, and Chad at her own expense. Proceeds from her book "Notes From My Travels" are used to assist refugees, and one third of all her income goes to charity. She has also adopted a Cambodian boy from an orphanage (Maddox) and an Ethiopian girl (Zahara).
Angelina Jolie has risked her life visiting these countries and to generate awareness for the impact of wars that forces people to live under sub-human conditions. In Iraq, she has had to meet with the governments of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq; their NGOs and civilian communities to convince them to increase the pace with which assistance is provided. The UNHCR seeks US $261 million for these refugees and has more than 350 staffers directly engaged in Iraq and the surrounding region. Considering the sheer volume of people involved and the many issues and concerns that need urgent attention, the amount is a pittance.
This refugee situation was borne out of the sectarian conflict between Shiite and
Sunni Muslims sparked by an attack on a Shiite shrine in Samarra; and has brought these millions of people to live very dangerously under conditions of extreme squalor. The refugee camps and the almost total absence of security within and around these camps, where men, women and children live constantly in fear of losing their lives from unseen enemies as well as famine and disease; is ripe for infiltration by the forces of terror, who could use the conditions for recruitment and indoctrination. This is the fear that Jolie expresses but does not say. A conclusion, drawn from being at the site and seeing and hearing it first hand from sources inside - sources who have been approached and possibly intimidated, to join.It is safe to say that Angelina Jolie has done so much, more than her share in fact, and now asks for support from the global community. The support is not for herself
nor the refugees alone, but for the world at large; since the expansion of terrorism is now a global malaise. The US led War on Terror has succeeded in terrorizing more than 5 million civilian citizens in Iraq, not to mention those in Afghanistan. Yet the US wants to continue the war since indications point to a victory. Perhaps a victory for their egos but not for the hazy cause of why it was fought. When will the lies about the war end?The legacy of this war and what it leaves behind may soon be upon the world, the rise in the number of terrorists and acts of terrorism. So much for victory...
Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twooooooph...Ting!
4 comments:
an Angel indeed Durano...
I saw her on TV the other night and this is a wonderful tribute to a gracious...caring...and beautiful woman...
it's very heartwarming to see such famous and obviously wealthy people sharing their good fortune to help so many less fortunate...
your post is a revealing insight into the need for global unity and compassion...as well as a call to action to halt this senseless war !! hear hear !!
She does really great work in her humanitarian efforts. It's a shame that the media has nothing better to do than try to rip her apart and find fault with her. But I guess that's what the media is about these days.....
Hi Kim,
I must have been a woman in my past life. :-)
It seems that only women can have genuine compassion for the plight of others in the way that she does. I do care for these people, the Chinese workers stranded by snow storms, the Lakota Indians in the US,the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia, the abuse of women and children by the Catholic priests, etc., etc.
There are men who show concern and who are also moved to assist, but these seem too few.
Angelina is the right name for her, as you said, she's an angel indeed! And to think that early in her career she was labeled a bad bratty girl. I suppose she had to find her wings and learn to use it. And she is using it quite extraordinarily!
Thanks for seconding the message. And the visit of course. --Durano, done!
Hello Fitness Diva,
The media is so jaded it cannot see the real thing when its in front of them. They only like the scandals and the stories about the darker side of people because these are what will sell papers or advertisements.
Media people don't start out these way, at least not all of them. But somehow they fall into this mode because of all the phoniness, violence, corruption, scandals, and outright lies that they get themselves exposed to. It's a place and a job I wouldn't be too comfortable with. Very few are really so professional and gifted who have managed to move beyond this milieu to see the good things about this world. --Durano, done!
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