Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and well-known humanitarian and world-famous actor Angelina Jolie on Tuesday arrived in Pakistan to oversee UNHCR humanitarian relief efforts for the Pakistani floods victims.
On Tuesday, Angelina Jolie arrived in Dadu district where she visited various flood-ravaged areas and met the shelterless flood survivors. According to a press release issued by the International Rescue Committee, Jolie arrived in Dadu by a chopper to witness and gain an understanding of the situation and to hear from people about their needs and steps to prevent such suffering in the future. The officials in Dadu informed media persons that the actress arrived in Dadu’s Zamzama oil fields via helicopter and used a boat to survey the area in Johi and its surrounding areas.
She visited village Mohavat Fakeer Loond where she sought details of the ravages of the floods and intermingled with the affected women of the village. She reportedly consoled the affected families and assured them that joint efforts are being made to provide them relief and rehabilitate them. In the press release, the IRC hoped that her visit will prompt the international community – particularly the US that contributes the most to carbon emissions to act and provide urgent support to countries bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.
Speaking on the occasion, 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 an increase in 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 International Rescue Committee (IRC) said that Jolie was visiting Pakistan to support communities affected by the devastating floods. Heavy rains and floods across the country have killed over 1,500 people, impacted 33 million, and submerged one-third of the country under water. Jolie, who previously visited victims of the 2010 floods and 2005 earthquake in Pakistan when she was the UNHCR’s goodwill ambassador, is scheduled to visit the IRC’s emergency response operations and local organisations assisting displaced people, including Afghan refugees.
