Angelina Jolie Speaks Out: - lissping

Angelina Jolie Speaks Out:

Angelina Jolie, UN Refugee Agency Goodwill Ambassador Speaks Out:  "More Aid for Libya & Ivory Coast" Dear Refugee Supporter, One camp, many complexities. That’s what the UN Refugee Agency’s Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie encountered on Tuesday when she visited a camp near the Tunisian-Libyan border.  Jolie was on a two-day visit to Tunisia to highlight the plight of nearly 440,000 people who fled Libya into surrounding countries since early March. More than half of them are in Tunisia, most of them migrants who had been working in Libya and others from war-torn countries.  During her Tunisia visit, Jolie also called for more international support for the relief operation at Choucha transit camp, and led the way by donating an ambulance to transport the injured from the border and by sponsoring an evacuation flight for 177 people to return to their countries of origin. While visiting the Choucha transit camp,Jolie met a family from Somalia that had been displaced repeatedly for 18 years. They first fled the conflict at home for the Middle East, but were sent back. They then tried leaving by boat, but were arrested and detained in Libya for five months, even the five-year-old daughter. They arrived at Choucha camp two weeks ago. "I hope this is the final place before you find the country where you can finally be at home and stop having to keep moving," she told them. Video: UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie  visits the Libya Border At the Ras Adjir border point, an average of 2,000 people continue to arrive daily from Libya. The Choucha transit camp remains a temporary home to more than 7,000 people who had recently fled the fighting in Libya. UNHCR has airlifted massive amounts of aid, including tents for thousands of people at the borders and items such as kitchen sets, blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans and tarpaulins. It has also set up a transit camp for 20,000 people near the border at the request of the Tunisian government. The Goodwill Ambassador also spoke to an Ivorian woman who was listening to the radio for the latest developments in Ivory Coast. The woman had left her four-year-old daughter in Abidjan to find work in Libya, but had to leave for Tunisia amid the recent unrest. She was anxious because the last time they had spoken on the phone, the little girl had been without food and drink for days.  "Ivory Coast has seen unrest and poverty for years and the situation is complicated," said Jolie. "But if the fighting eases, it would be an important step. The first question would be – how quickly can the first influx of aid come? We have to get relief to them immediately."  Over 136,000 people have fled the Ivory Coast for neighboring countries since the post-election violence started in November. As many as 1 million others are believed to be displaced within the country.  To deal with this massive influx, UNHCR teams have set up a rapid emergency registration system. We are also distributing emergency aid across villages where refugees are sheltered and in the Bahn refugee camp.   However, the UN Refugee Agency needs donor help for its growing emergency response. Funding is needed for our operations in Liberia and Ivory Coast, including purchase and transportation of emergency aid supplies. Follow Angelina's Lead.  Support Humanitarian Aid in Libya and Ivory Coast. Connect with USA for UNHCR:            Sincerely, Marc Breslaw Executive Director USA for UNHCR  Subscribe to Weekly UN Refugee Updates   USA for UNHCR - 1775 K Street, NW, Suite 290 - Washington, DC 20006

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