Hollywood actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon to support families affected by the devastating floods.
Jolie visited Dadu in Sindh province to meet with flood-affected people and survey the damage that was caused. She wished to bring attention to the effects of the climate crisis through her visit.
Jolie arrived at Zamzama oil fields in Dadu via helicopter and surveyed the villages of Johi, Dadu and surrounding areas by using a motorboat. She distributed relief items among the flood victims and discussed their needs.
Jolie visited National Flood Relief Response Centre(NFRCC). Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, NFRCC Coordinator and army high-ups thanked and briefed the celebrity about the ongoing relief operation.
Jolie was briefed about the flood response and measures taken thus far. Jolie said she will deeply make her efforts to let the world know about the scale of devastation the climate change crisis is causing and the life-saving support people need.
The Pakistan Army provided Jolie with security during her visit. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported that she was visiting Pakistan to help people affected by the devastating floods.
More than 1,500 people have died, 33 million have been impacted, and one-third of the country has been submerged under water due to heavy monsoon rains and floods in Pakistan. Angelina Jolie has arrived to assess the situation, to hear from people directly about their needs, and discuss steps to prevent such suffering in the future.
Jolie has been to Pakistan twice before, in 2010 and 2005, to support people affected by earthquakes. Her recent visit in 2022 is part of the International Rescue Committee’s relief efforts for flood affectees.
The actor from Maleficent will talk about the urgent support needed for the people of Pakistan and the long-term solutions needed to address the issues of climate change and human displacement.
The IRC released a statement hoping that her visit would inspire the international community, especially the US who contributes the most to carbon emissions, to take action and provide much-needed support to countries struggling with the climate crisis including Pakistan.
IRC Pakistan Country Director Shabnam Baloch said, “The climate crisis is destroying lives and futures in Pakistan, with severe consequences, especially for women and children. The resulting economic loss from these floods will likely lead to food insecurity and increased violence against women and girls. We need immediate support to reach people in urgent need, and long-term investments to stop climate change from destroying our collective futures. With more rains expected in the coming months, we hope Angelina Jolie’s visit will help the world wake up and take action.”
The most recent assessment from the IRC shows that people are urgently in need of food, water, shelter, and healthcare. A survey reported that women and young girls have no access to menstrual hygiene products. The IRC has provided humanitarian assistance to more than 50,000 women and girls, which includes hygiene kits to address the sanitary concerns brought up by women.
How dedicated is Angelina Jolie to Humanitarian work?
Angelina Jolie has been highly dedicated to humanitarian work since the early 2000s. In her role as an ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, she has visited numerous refugee camps around the world. She has also been a fierce advocate for education for all children, especially girls. From 2005-2007, she financially supported the launch of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants’ National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children.
In 2013, she was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Academy Award. In 2014, she was appointed an Honorary Dame for her services to the UK’s foreign policy and her efforts to end sexual violence in war zones.
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