[Psylocke]

Angelina Goes to Iraq

Angelina Jolie is in Iraq to witness firsthand the humanitarian crisis there, the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR has announced.

The actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, 32, flew from New York to Syria on Monday. In Damascus, she visited a UNHCR registration center and spend hours talking to Iraqi refugees in their homes.

Tuesday's journey had her crossing into Iraq to meet with 1,200 refugees camped out in a makeshift outpost at the border, because they are unable to leave the country. She also witnessed dozens of Iraqis crossing into Syria.



"I have come to Syria and Iraq to help draw attention to the humanitarian crisis and to urge governments to increase their support for UNHCR and its partners," Jolie said in a statement. "My sole purpose in both countries is to highlight the plight of those uprooted by the war in Iraq."






Angelina Jolie highlights humanitarian crisis during Syria and Iraq visits



DAMASCUS, Syria, August 28 (UNHCR) – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie has visited Iraq and Syria to see first-hand the plight of hundreds of thousands of families uprooted by the conflict in Iraq.

The UN refugee agency estimates more than 4. 2 million Iraqis have left their homes – 2 million to neighbouring states and another 2.2 million displaced inside Iraq.

Yesterday in Damascus, Jolie visited a UNHCR registration centre and spent hours talking to Iraqi refugees in their homes. Today, she crossed into Iraq to visit 1,200 refugees trapped in a makeshift camp at the border, unable to flee Iraq, and later watched scores of Iraqis crossing into Syria at a border checkpoint.

As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie said she would leave politics to others while focusing on the region's huge humanitarian needs.

"I have come to Syria and Iraq to help draw attention to this humanitarian crisis and to urge governments to increase their support for UNHCR and its partners," Jolie said. "My sole purpose in both countries is to highlight the humanitarian plight of those uprooted by the war in Iraq."

After talking with some of the stranded refugees at Iraq's Al Waleed camp on Tuesday, Jolie said: "it is absolutely essential that the ongoing debate about Iraq's future includes plans for addressing the enormous humanitarian consequences these people face."

While in Iraq, she separated from UNHCR to visit privately with US troops and other Multi-National Forces based in the area.

Jolie arrived in Syria on Monday. In Damascus, she met some of the thousands of Iraqi refugees registering with UNHCR, nearly one-quarter of whom are victims of violence and torture. Tens of thousands are without jobs, and many young people are in danger of losing out on an education and a future. She recognized Syria for its open borders and generosity to Iraqis.

In late July, UNHCR and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched a joint US$129 million education appeal aimed at getting 155,000 young Iraqi refugees throughout the Middle East back into school. The United States announced Tuesday that it will contribute US$30 million to the appeal.




Angelina visits Troops




OK! has just obtained the first shot of Angelina Jolie visiting American troops stationed in Iraq. The Oscar-winner is there to witness a firsthand account of the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country and has flown there solo.

In this exclusive shot, Angie poses with Denver native Lance Corporal Samuel Petersen, 22, of the US Marine Corps. The photo was taken today at Camp Waleed in Iraq, near the Waleed refugee camp that Angelina visited this morning. According to Petersen's mother Sue tells OK! that the Marines at this camp are training the Iraqi police how to do border patrol.


Angelina left partner Brad Pitt and their four children, Maddox, 6, Pax, 3, Zahara, 2, and Shiloh, 15 months, back in New York City, the Goodwill Ambassador jetted to Damascus, Syria on Monday afternoon to visit a UNHCR registration center and talk to dozens of Iraqi refugees in their homes.


On Tuesday, the Oscar winner ventured over into Iraq to meet with American and international troops, in addition to the 1,200 refugees stationed at a makeshift outpost, as they are unable to leave the country.

For safety reasons, the 32-year-old made the trip by herself save for Mickey Brett, her head bodyguard, sources tell OK!

Angelina departed for the airport shortly after Brad and the kids’ return from their lunch date at Maddox’s favorite stomping grounds, Mars 2112. The source adds that Holly, Ange’s longtime assistant, is watching the four while the actress is overseas and Brad is at production meetings for his upcoming flick Burn After Reading.

The children were not told where their mother was going, only that she would be gone for a few days.

credit:OK! MAG

[Stu]

Good for her - theirs very few celebritys who would risk their neck doing that.

*awaits some silly 'doing it for attention' post*.

[Tom4784]

I say it's very good of her to risk it because she could potentially be a huge target for terrorists. She gets an unfair rap though I think, people will accuse her of seeking publicity and such.

She's got a big heart.

[Psylocke]

the thing is she IS lookin for publicity,BUT NOT for herself,but for the atrocities that are happening over there that need to be stopped.

[the_stillness]

She is very brave. I wouldn't go to Iraq for anything. Well, perhaps a Million pound or Two, ha!

[Psylocke]

Originally posted by the_stillness
She is very brave. I wouldn't go to Iraq for anything. Well, perhaps a Million pound or Two, ha!

lol,im not sure id be brave enough either.