UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie and
the refugee agency's chief, António Guterres, meet Syrian refugees in
Jordan and hear their harrowing tales. To help families who have fled
the violence in Syria, please visit
http://www.UNRefugees.org/Syria
The UN refugee agency’s special envoy, actress Jolie (C), arrives at Al Zaatri refugee camp in jordan. REUTERS photo
US
actress and UNHCR special envoy Angelina Jolie and UN High Comission
for Refugees staff visit the Zaatari refugee camp near the Jordanian
border with Syria, on September 11, 2012.
Credit: KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/GettyImages
Photos: Mohammad Hannon/AP
Photos - Lainey
CNN
By Holly Yan and Saad Abedine, CNN
September 11, 2012 -- Updated 1240 GMT (2040 HKT)
(CNN) -- With the Syrian refugee crisis reaching
epic proportions, actress and U.N. Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visited
displaced residents Tuesday at a tent camp in Jordan.
The trip draws attention
to the plight of more than 253,000 Syrians who have fled their country
during 18 months of relentless bloodshed. More than 85,000 refugees have
escaped to Jordan, and many more have fled to neighboring Turkey,
Lebanon and Iraq.
Jolie said she was
appalled by "the amount of innocent children I've met here who are
wounded and unaccompanied, with their parents being killed, and now
they're on their own."
She relayed horror
stories of things that children said they had witnessed, such as "body
parts separated, and burned people being pulled apart, like chicken. A
little 9-year-old girl said that."
"I am grateful to Jordan
and the border countries for saving the lives (of those) who are dying
in Syria. It's an extraordinary thing," Jolie said at the Zaatari
Refugee Camp in Mafraq.
"We encourage the international community to support the people here until one day they go back home."
But the flood of refugees has tested the capacity of neighboring countries.
"Jordan has already
reached its limit in absorbing the refugee influx, and what is needed
now is to build more refugee camps for the Syrian refugees," Jordanian
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said. "We have limited means, but this is
the land of the good people, and we will share with them whatever we
have, no matter how little (it) is."
@janearraf
SkyNews
Angelina Jolie Meets Syrian Refugees In Jordan
One of Hollywood's biggest stars flies in to offer her support to people displaced by the violence in Syria.
Angelina Jolie has met Syrian refugees who have fled the violence - and their homes - and crossed the border into Jordan.
The Hollywood star, who has donated $5m (£3.1m) to UN efforts to help
refugees, visited the Zaatari camp which is home to around 27,000 men,
women and children displaced by the 18-month long conflict.
Jordan has sheltered more than 185,000 Syrian refugees - the largest
number in the region - and this camp is said to have become a sprawling
tent city.
UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser
Judeh accompanied the actress on the visit, during which she met some
of the refugees and asked them about their experiences of conflict and
of leaving their homes.
Mr Guterres said the camp "needs massive international funding", adding "conditions are still not acceptable".
Jolie was previously a goodwill ambassador for the UN, before being
appointed a special envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in
April.
This is not the first time she has visited Syrian refugees.
In June 2011, Jolie flew to Turkey, which has also received thousands of people fleeing the violence in Syria.
The star took boxes of toys to children who live with their parents at a camp near the city of Altinozu.
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie meets with refugees on the Jordanian
border minutes after they crossed from Syria. With shelling clearly
audible and visible across the border in Syria, some 200 refugees made
the dangerous crossing under cover of night.
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie and UNHCR Representatives meet
refugees on the Jordanian border minutes after 200 of them crossed from
Syria on Monday (Reuters photo)
AP | Sep 11, 2012 | 12:59
ZAATARI, Jordan — Her eyes welling
up with tears, actress Angelina Jolie said Tuesday she heard “horrific”
and “heartbreaking” accounts from Syrian refugees who fled the civil
war in their country to find shelter in a camp just across the border in
Jordan.
The Hollywood star and U.N. refugee agency’s special envoy
spoke as she visited the Zaatari camp, which hosts about 30,000 Syrians
displaced by the 18-month conflict that has so far claimed at least
23,000 lives, according to activists.
“I am very concerned, the world is very concerned,” Jolie said
during her high-profile visit aimed at focusing international attention
on the plight of Syrian refugees and attracting more funding to help
them. “What is very heartbreaking is when Syrian people ask you why you
think no one is able to find a solution for them.”
“What they
described on the ground, hearing it from them is so horrific,” she said,
adding that the children’s stories were especially moving. “When you
meet so many innocent people and civilians, the people of Syria are
asking who is on their side. ‘Who is going to help us as the months go
on?’”
The actress also said some of the refugees expressed fears
“there will be no more of us” left in Syria as the relentless bloodshed
grinds on.
Jolie also met separately with Syrian refugee women and
toured the sprawling tent city in the company of U.N. refugee chief
Antonio Guterres and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
“This mission that we are sharing has a key objective. It is to draw
attention to the international community to express a much more stronger
solidarity with Syrian refugees and the host countries that have kept
their borders open to all those fleeing the conflict,” said Guterres.
According
to Guterres, Jordan has taken in some 200,000 Syrians — the largest
number in the region. The refugee chief acknowledged the sheer numbers
are taking a toll on Jordan’s economy and resources, stressing that the
“camp needs massive international funding” and that its conditions were
“still not acceptable.”
The UNHCR in April promoted Jolie from
serving as its goodwill ambassador to special envoy due to her
exceptional work for the agency.
Jordan opened up the Zaatari
facility for Syrians in July after long delaying a decision on whether
to set up refugee camps, possibly to avoid angering Syrian President
Bashar Assad’s autocratic regime by showing images at his doorstep of
civilians fleeing his military onslaught.
Jolie was also to visit Syrian refuges in Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq during the rest of her trip to the region.
In
Geneva, the UNHCR said Tuesday that while the agency has 253,106 people
registered or awaiting registration as Syrian refugees, the real number
is likely far higher since tens of thousands are believed to have not
yet registered. Some are getting help from family or friends, while some
are afraid to register for fear of possible consequences from Assad’s
regime.
Agency spokesman Adrian Edwards said the refugees have
reported continuing artillery and air attacks in villages and towns
close to the Jordanian border, and that there are thousands of displaced
in southern Syria.
The UNHCR also has been scaling up emergency
operations for 200,000 people inside Syria who have been displaced by
fighting and need medical care, shelter and schools.
___
Associated Press Writer John Heilprin in Geneva contributed to this report.
Copyright
2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MAFRAQ — Her eyes welling up with tears, actress
Angelina Jolie said Tuesday she heard "horrific" and "heartbreaking"
accounts from Syrian refugees who fled the civil war in their country to
find shelter in a camp just across the border in Jordan.
The Hollywood star and UN refugee agency's special envoy spoke as she
visited the Zaatari camp in Mafraq, which hosts about 30,000 Syrians
displaced by the 18-month conflict that has so far claimed at least
23,000 lives, according to activists.
"I am very concerned, the world is very concerned," Jolie said during
her high-profile visit aimed at focusing international attention on the
plight of Syrian refugees and attracting more funding to help them.
"What is very heartbreaking is when Syrian people ask you why you think
no one is able to find a solution for them."
"What they described on the ground, hearing it from them is so
horrific," she said, adding that the children's stories were especially
moving. "When you meet so many innocent people and civilians, the people
of Syria are asking who is on their side. 'Who is going to help us as
the months go on?'"
The actress also said some of the refugees expressed fears "there
will be no more of us" left in Syria as the relentless bloodshed grinds
on.
Jolie also met separately with Syrian refugee women and toured the
sprawling tent city in the company of UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres
and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
"This mission that we are sharing has a key objective. It is to draw
attention to the international community to express a much more stronger
solidarity with Syrian refugees and the host countries that have kept
their borders open to all those fleeing the conflict," said Guterres.
According to Guterres, Jordan has taken in some 200,000 Syrians — the largest number in the region.
The refugee chief acknowledged the sheer numbers are taking a toll on
Jordan's economy and resources, stressing that the "camp needs massive
international funding" and that its conditions were "still not
acceptable."
The UNHCR in April promoted Jolie from serving as its goodwill
ambassador to special envoy due to her exceptional work for the agency.
Jolie was also to visit Syrian refuges in Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq during the rest of her trip to the region.
Daily Mail
-
Heard heartbreaking personal accounts from Syrian refugees who fled the civil war
- Stories from those on the ground are 'very heartbreaking', says the Hollywood star
- Jolie to visit Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq during the rest of her trip to the region
By
Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED:
14:51 GMT, 11 September 2012
|
UPDATED:
15:00 GMT, 11 September 2012
Emotional: Angelina Jolie, accompanied by UN
High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres (L) can't stop the
swelling in her eyes as she briefs the press during her visit to the
Zaatari refugee camp near the Jordanian border with Syria
Disbelief: The Hollywood actress has been
visiting the Zaatari refugee camp hearing first account stories from
what's been happening on the ground from Syrian civilians
Reaching out: Angelina Jolie takes time out to listen to a Syrian refugee's heartfelt story at the camp
Concerned: The A list star wants the world to
join her in raising international attention on the plight of Syrian
refugees and attract more funding to help them
The UNHCR in April promoted Jolie from
serving as its goodwill ambassador to special envoy due to her
exceptional work for the agency.
Jordan
opened up the Zaatari facility for Syrians in July after long delaying a
decision on whether to set up refugee camps, possibly to avoid angering
Syrian President Bashar Assad's autocratic regime by showing images at
his doorstep of civilians fleeing his military onslaught.
Jolie was also to visit Syrian refuges in Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq during the rest of her trip to the region.
In
Geneva, the UNHCR said Tuesday that while the agency has 253,106 people
registered or awaiting registration as Syrian refugees, the real number
is likely far higher since tens of thousands are believed to have not
yet registered. Some are getting help from family or friends, while some
are afraid to register for fear of possible consequences from Assad's
regime.
Agency spokesman
Adrian Edwards said the refugees have reported continuing artillery and
air attacks in villages and towns close to the Jordanian border, and
that there are thousands of displaced in southern Syria.
The
UNHCR also has been scaling up emergency operations for 200,000 people
inside Syria who have been displaced by fighting and need medical care,
shelter and schools.
Jared photos
News Stories, 11 September 2012
ZA'ATRI, Jordan, September 11 (UNHCR)
–
High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres and UNHCR Special Envoy
Angelina Jolie met with Syrian refugees on Tuesday during a visit to the
Za'atri camp in Jordan. Guterres said the "camp needs massive
international funding" and that "the conditions are still not
acceptable."
As well as showing solidarity with the refugees, the visit recognizes
the commitment of the Jordanian people and government to refugee
protection. The latest figures on Tuesday show that more than a quarter
of a million Syrian refugees have now been registered in the surrounding
region, or are awaiting registration.
On Monday night, Jolie visited the Jordanian border with Syria and
met newly arriving families. Among them was an injured man. Most of the
refugees cross the border at night. Shelling could be heard from across
the border and some 200 refugees made the dangerous crossing.
Since its opening in late July, Za'atri camp, which is located close
to Mafraq near the Syria border, has received 28,000 refugees. These are
among the 83,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan who have registered or are
awaiting registration. Many more are believed to have crossed without
seeking to register. Most of the refugees are living with host
communities in urban areas.
"Refugees tell us that artillery and air attacks are continuing in
villages and towns close to the Jordanian border. There are reports of
thousands of displaced people in Syria's south, moving from village to
village seeking safety before they can cross the border," a UNHCR
spokesman said.
The number of refugees crossing the border tends to fluctuate daily
according to the security situation inside Syria. Overall, the average
remains around 2,000 new arrivals a day, but some days have seen less
than 100 people crossing.
Refugees say a number of sites in Damascus where displaced people
have been sheltering are now affected by violence, forcing them to move
again. Some refugees report being displaced five or six times before
finally leaving the country.
UNHCR, together with the Jordanian government, the Jordan Hashemite
Charity Organization and UN and NGO partners, is working day and night
to support Syrian refugees. Nevertheless, conditions at Za'atri
– a windswept camp in the desert
– are still harsh, and most refugees are living in tents.
With winter approaching, UNHCR hopes to be able to move people into
prefabricated housing, which are arriving at a rate of up to 30 homes a
day, giving priority to the most vulnerable families.
In the meantime, refugees are doing their best to establish their
lives in the camp. Over the weekend, the first wedding took place while
there have been several births in Za'atri since the camp opened.
Guterres and Jolie were due later Tuesday to meet Jordan's King
Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh and Minister
of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh.
@RandaHabib
2:46 PM - 10 Sep 12
@RandaHabib
Angelina Jolie in Jordan to visit Syrian refugees
AMMAN, Jordan
(AP) -- The U.N. refugee agency says its special envoy, actress
Angelina Jolie, is in Jordan to visit Syrians who fled the civil war in
their country.
UNHCR spokesman Ali Bebe says
the Hollywood star arrived Monday and is to visit Jordan's first tent
city for Syrian refugees on Tuesday morning.
Jolie
will be accompanied by U.N. refugee chief Antonio Guterres and
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on the visit to the Zatari camp,
which hosts about 27,000 Syrians displaced by the 18-month conflict.
Jordan has sheltered more than 185,000 Syrian refugees - the largest number in the region.
The
UNHCR in April promoted Jolie from serving as its goodwill ambassador
to special envoy due to her work for the agency. Jolie has contributed
$5 million to U.N. efforts aiding refugees worldwide.
In June 2111, she visited Syrian refugees in the Altinozu refugee camp in Turkey, near the Syrian border.
@DamascusSYR
