As Wynter mentioned, earlier this month, Angelina Jolie took time out to visit soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center. Just a few weeks later, the popular actress went to Baghdad itself.
Jolie, an UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, visited the war-torn country on Thursday to speak on the behalf of the millions of Iraqis who have been displaced within their own country and around the region. Her one-day visit included a stop at a makeshift settlement in the Baghdad suburb of Chikook where many displaced people have taken up. She spoke with several families who talked about how their children couldn’t go to school and they couldn’t pay for medical treatment.
“The only help that we got was from UNHCR,” said one of the family members. “They are the only people who knocked on our door. But look at this life, it’s very hard on us.”
Jolie responded, “It takes a lot of strength for you to survive this life. I don’t know if I would be strong enough to survive this.”
Currently, 20,000 people make up Chikook, most of which are women and children. The place lacks drinking water, a working sewer system and general infrastructure. The U.N. refugee agency is currently trucking in water and working to repair the water system. Since spring of last year, UNHCR has helped 5,000 families with shelter repairs with a goal of upgrading 20,000 homes by the year’s end.
“They are right to feel that it is not fair,” said Jolie. “I want to come back and find you in a better place and in a different situation. We hope that UNHCR and the government will support you in getting a piece of land. You need help not because you are poor, but because you are the future of Iraq.”
This was Jolie’s three visit to Iraq in less than two years. She hopes to give the people encouragement and call attention to their plight.
“This is a moment where things seem to be improving on the ground, but Iraqis need a lot of support and help to rebuild their lives.”
For more info, see video below:
Photo courtesy of the World Economic Forum via Flickr.
