Angelina Globe-Trots for Good in Afghanistan
FAME Pictures
Angelina Jolie has boldly—and conscientiously—gone where no Jolie-Pitt has gone before.
And that's saying something.
The Oscar winner and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador wrapped up her first ever trip to Afghanistan Thursday after spending two days touring the region, meeting with Afghan natives and raising awareness of the country's growing problem of reintegrating returning refugees.
"The courage, resilience and quiet dignity of returnee families rebuilding their lives against the kind of adversity few of us can imagine shows the human spirit at its best," Jolie said.
The actress' solo sojourn came in advance of a planned international conference set to take place in Kabul next month to deal with the massive issue of landless and poverty-stricken citizens.
During her trip, which kicked off Tuesday and prevented Jolie from attending the Los Angeles premiere of her new film, Changeling, last night, the Goodwill Ambassador traveled to several provinces within Afghanistan and paid visits to some of the largest settlement sites in the country—all told, according to the UNHCR, more than 5 million displaced Afghans have returned to the region since 2001.
Jolie also met with families forced to squat in some of Kabul's public buildings, lacking the land, finances and security to return to their homes.
At the end of her two-day stay, Jolie called for the development of long-term national programs to address the issue and for an increase in humanitarian aid budgets, preferably to be given before the coming winter months.
"Afghanistan has been struggling to absorb these massive returns," she said. "It's understandable. It's one of the largest population movements in recent history."
It's unclear whether Jolie herself will take part in next month's conference, though the report of her trip will be utilized.
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