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| Jason Tanner/REUTERS/UNHCR /Landov |
Angelina Jolie is one Hollywood star who continues to inspire us to make the world a better place! The actress, who also serves as a Goodwill Ambassador to the UNHCR, visited Pakistan on Tuesday to meet with the victims of the devastating floods and help rally aid from the international community.
Jolie, 35, wore a traditional long black robe and a black headscarf during her visit. "I am very moved by them and I hope that I am able to, today and tomorrow, be able to do something to help bring attention to the situation for all of the people in need in Pakistan," she told reporters after meeting with flood victims at a refugee camp in the Jalozai area.
USA Today notes that the floods, which began at the end of July due to heavy monsoon rains, have destroyed villages and towns and have taken the lives of more than 1,700 people. It is estimated that another 17 million people have been effected by the floods and will need aid, and only 64% of the emergency funds have made its way to the struggling country.
While Pakistan continues to wait for aid and donations, the help of famous faces like Jolie will hopefully make a difference in the meantime. Ajay Chhibber, a U.N. assistant secretary general, said he hopes the Oscar winner's visit will have "a very big impact" on bringing attention for help.
"We need more ... well-known figures who can keep the spotlight and focus because people tend to forget internationally," Chhibber told reporters.
That very sentiment was what fellow famous actor/activist George Clooney said during his Emmy speech on Aug. 29 when he received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. Clooney urged viewers to "help find a way to keep the spotlight burning on these heartbreaking situations that continue to be heartbreaking long after the cameras go away." The American star cited "the Haitians, the Sudanese, people in the Gulf Coast, Pakistan" as some of the places where people should turn their attention to help. (ivillage)
