Angelina Jolie was in Syria on Friday meeting with some Iraqi refugees. She reminded the world to not to forget the suffering of those who are unable to go back home due to the trauma they have endured and the instability within the country. Jolie is serving as a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR, the U.N.’s refugee agency. Brad Pitt also made the trip with her.
Several thousand Iraqi refugees have come back home from Syria and various other nations over the past 12 months, but there are many others who cannot do so.
“Most Iraqi refugees cannot return to Iraq in view of the severe trauma they experienced there, the uncertainty linked to the coming Iraqi elections, the security issues and the lack of basic services,” read a UNHCR statement that quoted Jolie. “They will, therefore, be in need of continued support from the international community.”
The Tomb Raider actress was referring to Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for January 16th.
This is the second trip to Syria in two years for Angelina Jolie. So far on the trip, she has visited Damascus’ poorest suburbs and has also discussed the Iraqi refugee crisis with Syrian President Bashar Assad and his wife, Asma, according to UNHCR.
tags:Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Iraq, Syria, UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
