World Refugee Day: Angelina Jolie calls for greater understanding of the plight of refugees

Angelina Jolie calls for greater understanding of refugees

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie launches World Refugee Day festivities in Washington D.C. Photo: UNHCR

WASHINGTON D.C. June 18th -- UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie launched activities in the United States for World Refugee Day in Washington D.C. Jolie appeared alongside UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres to call on the world to recognize millions of victims of conflict not as a burden, but as a potential gift. NBC news anchor Ann Curry moderated the event, which took place at the National Geographic Society headquarters.

As an American, Jolie said, "I know the strength that diversity has given my country and I believe we must persuade the world that refugees must not be simply viewed as a burden. They are the survivors. The refugees I have met and spent time with have profoundly changed my life." She added, "Today . . . I want to thank them for letting me into their lives."

The event included a live feed from the Djabal refugee camp in eastern Chad, where a UNHCR staff member on the ground spoke to the assembled audience. The theme of this year's events is "Real People, Real Needs," underscoring the fact that while the world struggles to cope with the fall-out from the global financial crisis, millions of people in poorer countries are in
need of help and attention in order to survive.

High Commissioner Guterres spoke of the increasing difficulties and dangers facing the world's more than 42 million uprooted people as well as those trying to help them. "This is a dangerous and changing world," he said. "The international community faces difficulties today – it is difficult to balance the sovereignty of states with the sovereignty of the

Ann Curry, Greg Mortenson and Khaled Hosseini discuss refugee crises around the world at an afternoon panel on World Refugee Day. Photo: UNHCR

human being."

Events for World Refugee Day on June 20th included a concert at Washington's Kennedy Center by legendary Congolese vocalist and bandleader Samba Mapangala, a football match between refugees in Australia, a musical performance by Kurdish refugees from Iran in northern Iraq and a film festival in Japan. UNHCR also launched a new web site, www.refugeedaylive.org, that featured live streams from Iraq, Pakistan, a refugee camp in Africa and a settlement for the displaced in Colombia.

At Thursday's event, UNHCR awarded a refugee from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rose Mapendo, who had started her own NGO for victims of conflict, with its US Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Later in the day USA for UNHCR hosted a panel discussion with Ann Curry, Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, and Khaled Hosseini, UNHCR Goodwill Envoy and author of The Kite Runner. The discussion focused on the plight of refugees around the world and inspiring stories of survival and endurance in the face of overwhelming odds.