UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visits to Za'atri camp in Jordan
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Angelina Jolie continued to express solidarity with Syrian refugees and pay tribute to the Jordanian government and people for their strong commitment to refugee protection.
UNHCR / J. Tanner / December 2012
Angelina Jolie travels to Syria-Jordan border as refugee influx continues
News Stories, 6 December 2012
"What I saw last night is a dramatic example of the plight of hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have been uprooted by the fighting and are in a desperate search for safety," Jolie said Thursday on her second mission to the region in three months.
"Civilians inside the country are being targeted. Many of those trying to flee are exposed to extreme danger right up to the border itself. I appeal to all sides in the conflict to do all they can to ensure the safe passage of these innocent civilians."
Nearly half a million Syrians fleeing intensified fighting have been registered in neighbouring countries since the conflict began. Hundreds of thousands more are unregistered, but are expected to come forward for help in the next few months as their resources become depleted.
Since Jolie's last visit in September, the number of registered refugees in the region has increased by more than 200,000 and in Jordan alone by nearly 50,000. The sprawling Za'atri refugee camp north of Amman has doubled in size.
Upon arrival in Amman on Wednesday night, Jolie travelled immediately to the border, about an hour's drive north of the capital. In a briefing with border officers, she praised Jordan for welcoming Syrian refugees despite serious social and economic strains.
"The incredible compassion shown to these traumatized refugee families by the Jordanian border guards tonight was extremely moving," she said, noting that the troops were on duty along the tense frontier 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "Jordan has welcomed the refugees even though it has placed a huge burden on the country. The international community needs to show more solidarity and to support Jordan and the other countries in the region who continue to keep their borders open."
The Special Envoy spoke with several refugees who had just fled across the border in total darkness to two remote border reception stations overlooking a broad plain straddling the frontier. The distant thud of artillery could be heard north of the border, where the lights of Syrian towns were visible. In all, 328 refugees arrived in Jordan during the night. Around the region, some 2,000 refugees flee to neighbouring countries daily.
"We had a beautiful, hospitable country," one refugee told Jolie. "We always helped one another. Now, there's nothing left and we can't even help each other."
Medical staff at the border post said at least six of those who arrived overnight had to be hospitalized, some with bullet wounds. Jolie was stunned by one medic's account of a wounded child who had lost his leg. "It was extremely upsetting to hear the story of an eight-year-old boy who upon arrival in Jordan explained to doctors that he had asked his family to carry his severed leg along on the journey in hopes that it could be reattached," she said.
"I'm sickened by how long and how bloody this conflict has become, devastating a nation and the lives of millions of innocent civilians, and threatening to destabilize the entire region. I call on the international community to do everything possible to find a solution to this tragedy and support the struggling humanitarian operations both inside Syria and in Jordan and the other surrounding countries."
On Thursday, Jolie visited Za'atri refugee camp, where those who arrive nightly at Jordan's remote border crossings with Syria are transferred. UNHCR and its partners are in a race against time to prepare the camp and its more than 30,000 residents for winter, along with hundreds of thousands of other refugees throughout the region.
Among the refugees she visited in the camp was a family of eight she had met the night before at the border, shortly after they had crossed from Syria. They had already been provided with a tent and an aid package of household items ranging from warm blankets to kitchen utensils. Although their tent is not designed for winter weather – that will come later – they were nevertheless thankful for the help they had received on their first day in the camp.
"We're very grateful for what we've received, and even more grateful to finally be in a safe place," the head of family said. "Now we're eager to find out about schools for the children."
The Special Envoy viewed a number of the winter projects under way in the camp, where overnight temperatures are dropping to freezing. Tents are being reinforced and better insulated to protect against the weather, including the addition of "porches" where gas heaters are being placed. Some 30,000 high thermal blankets are being distributed, along with winter clothing.
A storm drainage system is being built and a layer of crushed rock spread throughout the camp to channel water away from shelters and prevent mud and standing water. In addition, more than 1,300 prefabricated shelters have been erected and another 1,300 should be in place within three weeks.
"Winter is already here and UNHCR and its partners still lack 50 per cent of the funds needed to get everyone through the next few difficult months," Jolie said.
"Despite all the good work being done so far, it's clear here on the ground that all the resources are now stretched to the limit. This is going to be a very tough few months. Winter can be harsh here, even dangerous for refugees who may already be weakened by their ordeal. Many have been brutalized in unimaginable ways. They deserve all the support we can give them."
Angelina Jolie and her partner, Brad Pitt, made a donation of US$50,000 Thursday afternoon for the purchase family tents for refugees. Later Thursday, Jolie was scheduled to conclude her mission with meetings with Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
Just Jared
David Haigh
Great day in Jordan topped of with seeing Angelina Jolie at the hotel.
From Daily Mail
It's finally happening! Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt 'pick up their wedding rings' as they prepare for the big day
By Chelsea White|
It has taken seven years and six children, but Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are finally about to walk down the aisle.
Hollywood's biggest couple could be married any day now after the pair reportedly picked up their wedding rings.
Not business as usual: Angelina Jolie continued
with her duties as a Special Envoy for the UN meeting with refugees at
the Zattari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan on Thursday, despite a report
she is preparing to wed long-time partner Brad Pitt
'On November 27, a stylist for the actress picked up wedding rings from Neil Lane jewelers for the couple,' the magazine reports.
The bands arrived at the Jolie Pitt home just a day after Brad made it clear at the premiere of his new film, Killing Me Softly, that he planned to make an honest woman out of Angie - at the request of their children.
'The time is nigh': The day before the couple's
stylist picked up their rings, Brad told the media at the premiere of
his new movie that he felt the 'time had come' for the two actors to get
married
'The time is nigh. It's soon. I got a good feeling about it.'
According to People magazine The World War Z star said the fact they have been together for so long does not lessen the importance of a wedding
'We've had a family, we've raised the kids,' he said
'I am surprised how much it meant to me once you had that.'
A force for good: Angelina meets with Syrian refugees at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan on Thursday
Concerned: Jolie said on her second visit to the
region in three months 'I appeal to all sides in the conflict to do all
they can to ensure the safe passage of these innocent civilians'
Long time coming: A wedding between the
Hollywood heavyweights, pictured here at the 2012 Academy Awards, has
been hotly anticipated with many thinking they were about to tie the
knot in August
The pair's wedding has often been speculated over with many believing they were set to marry in August this year.
It was thought the pair were to tie the knot in a civil ceremony at their recently renovated multimillion dollar French estate, Chateau Miraval.
Both halves of Brangelina are no strangers to walking down the aisle.
Angelina has been married twice before - to British actor Jonny Lee Miller between 1996 and 1999 and then Billy Bob Thornton, from 2000 to 2003.
The actress even had the Monster's Ball actor Billy Bob's name tattooed on her shoulder blade but later had it removed.
The unusual couple remain good friends, however.
Brad was of course married to Jennifer Aniston in what was regarded by many as a fairy tale romance.
The couple's marriage lasted five years before they announced they were divorcing in early 2005 - which came after he had met Angelina on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith.
Brad and Angelina had previously declared they would not wed until same-sex marriage was officially recognised.
However, their children had other ideas.
'It seems to mean more and more to our kids,' he said in January.
'We made this declaration some time ago that we weren't going to [get married] till everyone can. But I don't think we'll be able to hold out … it means something to me, too, to make that kind of commitment.'
But while she may be about to wed, it seems Angelia is no bridezilla.
Rather than picking out flowers, on Thursday she was busy meeting with Syrian refugees at the Za'atri refugee camp in Jordan.
For the kids: Brangelina got engaged in April this year following pressure from their six children [file picture]
'I appeal to all sides in the conflict to do all they can to ensure the safe passage of these innocent civilians.'
Since her last visit to the region in September, the number of refugees in the region has increased by more than 200,000 and in Jordan alone by nearly 50,000.
Celebrity News
December 6, 2012 AT 2:50PM
Angelina Jolie in Jordan on December 6, 2012.
Credit: J Tanner/UNHCR via Getty
Angelina Jolie said she was going to devote more time to her philanthropic efforts -- and she's already making good on her word.
The Maleficent star met with refugees at the Zaatari refugee camp outside Mafraq, Jordan on Thursday, Dec. 6. Jolie, 37, held children's hands and picked one little girl up while she toured the camp, following up on a September visit.
PHOTOS: How Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt fell in love
Wearing a black jacket, pants and boots, the actress, who was recently appointed to UNHCR Special Envoy, greeted refugees with a smile on her face. Jolie hopes her visits will draw attention to the ongoing crisis in the area.
"Civilians inside the country are being targeted. Many of those
trying to flee are exposed to extreme danger right up to the border
itself. I appeal to all sides in the conflict to do all they can to
ensure the safe passage of these innocent civilians," Jolie said in a
statement via the UNHCR.
PHOTOS: Angelina goes global
In a recent interview with Britain's Channel 4 News, the Oscar-winning actress said she will "give up acting" when her children "hit the teenage years." (Jolie and fiance Brad Pitt have six children: Maddox, 11, Pax, 9, Zahara, 7, Shiloh, 6, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 4.)
PHOTOS: Angie and Brad's surprising BFFs
The busy mom hopes she can focus more on her humanitarian work.
"I wake up in the morning as a mom, and I turn on the news like everybody else, and I see what's happening, and I want to be part of the world in a positive way," she said.
The Maleficent star met with refugees at the Zaatari refugee camp outside Mafraq, Jordan on Thursday, Dec. 6. Jolie, 37, held children's hands and picked one little girl up while she toured the camp, following up on a September visit.
PHOTOS: How Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt fell in love
Wearing a black jacket, pants and boots, the actress, who was recently appointed to UNHCR Special Envoy, greeted refugees with a smile on her face. Jolie hopes her visits will draw attention to the ongoing crisis in the area.
Angelina Jolie
Credit: Tanner/UNHCR via Getty
Credit: Tanner/UNHCR via Getty
PHOTOS: Angelina goes global
In a recent interview with Britain's Channel 4 News, the Oscar-winning actress said she will "give up acting" when her children "hit the teenage years." (Jolie and fiance Brad Pitt have six children: Maddox, 11, Pax, 9, Zahara, 7, Shiloh, 6, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 4.)
PHOTOS: Angie and Brad's surprising BFFs
The busy mom hopes she can focus more on her humanitarian work.
"I wake up in the morning as a mom, and I turn on the news like everybody else, and I see what's happening, and I want to be part of the world in a positive way," she said.
