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Angelina Jolie pays third visit to Iraq, appeals for aid for the displaced

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 23 (UNHCR) – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie returned to Iraq on Thursday to offer support to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who remain displaced within their own country.

During her day-long visit to Baghdad, Jolie visited a makeshift settlement for internally displaced people in the Chikook suburb of north-west Baghdad where she met four families displaced from the district of Abu Ghraib, located to the west of Baghdad, and from the western suburbs of the capital.

Despite the difficulties in Iraq, Jolie said this was a moment of opportunity for Iraqis to rebuild their lives. “This is a moment where things seem to be improving on the ground, but Iraqis need a lot of support and help to rebuild their lives.”

The families that Jolie met complained that their children could not go to school and they could not afford to pay for medical treatment for various ailments. 43-year-old Ali* built his crude brick dwelling in Chikook after escaping from Abu Ghraib district with his 38-year-old wife and six children four years ago.

“The only help that we got was from UNHCR. They are the only people who knocked on our door. But look at this life, it’s very hard on us,” he said. “It takes a lot of strength for you to survive this life. I don’t know if I would be strong enough to survive this,” Jolie told him.

In a nearby house, the acclaimed actress met a family of nine, including children who don’t go to school and a baby with a rash all over its body. Jolie rocked the new-born on her lap throughout the visit. A daughter-in-law studied law before the violence forced the family into flight and ended her education.

“No way,” the family said in unison when asked by Jolie if they wanted to return to their former home district. “Our neighbours returned and their three daughters were killed,” the daughter-in-law, Salwa,* said. “Why is this happening to us?,” she asked.

“They are right to feel that it is not fair,” said Jolie, who pledged to return to Iraq. “I want to come back and find you in a better place and in a different situation. We hope that UNHCR and the government will support you in getting a piece of land. You need help not because you are poor, but because you are the future of Iraq,” she stressed, adding that she hoped Salwa would be able to become a lawyer.

“The picture in this camp is a rough one but there are also some people that were able to return home to other safer areas,” Jolie said later. “There are some changes. There are returns of displaced people, not a big number but there is progress.”

Chikook is home to more than 20,000 people, mostly women and children and including several thousand local people. It lacks drinking water, an operational sewage system and paved roads. The area is littered with garbage, despite a UNHCR-organized clean-up earlier this year.

The UN refugee agency has been trucking in potable water for the residents over the past few months, and has worked on the rehabilitation of the water system and conducted minor shelter repairs.

UNHCR estimates that 1.6 million Iraqis were internally displaced by a wave of sectarian warfare that erupted in February 2006 after the bombing of a mosque in the ancient city of Samarra. Almost 300,000 have returned to their homes amid a general improvement in the security situation since mid-2008.

Since April last year, UNHCR has provided emergency shelter rehabilitation and shelter upgrade to 5,000 families. Close to 20,000 homes will be rehabilitated by the end of this year. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees remain in neighbouring countries, mainly Syria and Jordan.

Jolie was making her third trip to Iraq. In August 2007, she visited 1,200 refugees trapped in Al Waleed camp near the border with Syria. She also visited the country in February last year, when she highlighted the problems faced by the internally displaced and urged action to help them.

UNHCR.org

Angelina Jolie was seen landing her plane at the Bob Hope Airport after an hour and 28 minute flying lesson from Las Vegas. Her sons Maddox, 7, and Pax, 5, were reportedly on board and on hand for the Sin City trip.

Brad Pitt takes a first class Air France Flight back to LAX airport in Los Angeles on Thursday (July 30).

justjared

“Wanted 2″ will see James McAvoy’s Wesley Gibson trying to wake up Angelina Jolie’s character, Fox. During his appearance in “9″ panel at San Diego Comic Con 2009, the animation’s producer Timur Bekmambetov shared the idea. “James McAvoy will be in the movie, and he will try to wake up our Fox,” so claimed the “Wanted (2008)” director as quoted by Sci Fi Wire.

However, when pursued further on where Fox currently resides, the 48-year-old evasively said, “She’s in a bath with wax.” The wax bath he is referring is the healing bath which is seen used in the first film by the characters to recover from their wounds. Previously, Bekmambetov noted that he is looking for ways to bring Jolie back, stating, “We are working hard to wake her up. She was deadly wounded.”

“The bullet’s still there (in her head), and now it’s a process of how to wake her up,” he continued explaining. “There has to be a reason for that. We survive if we have a reason to live. She decided [to shoot herself], it’s her decision. And now we are trying to figure out what’s the motivation for her to resurrect. It’s happening. I think we will make it happen.”

As for when the sequel falls into production, writer Mark Millar, as reported by Superhero Hype!, stated that the script has been completed and the filmmakers are going to start shooting in eight weeks time. On the contrary, director Bekmambetov suggested that what is going to be kicked off in 8 weeks is likely to be the pre-production.

“Wanted 2″ has director Timur Bekmambetov attached to direct this “Wanted (2008)” sequel. Marc E. Platt and Jim Lemley will serve as producers, while Universal Pictures production executive Jeff Kirschenbaum is to oversee the project. James McAvoy will once again take the role of Wesley Gibson. It allegedly revolves around the international group of assassins from issues 4 and 5 of Mark Millar’s graphic novel.

aceshowbiz

Angelina Jolie arrives at LAX airport in Los Angeles with oldest son Maddox, 7, after a flight from London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday (July 24).

The 34-year-old actress took time out of her busy schedule as a United Nations Goodwill ambassador to meet with soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division and Multi-National Division-Baghdad at Iraq’s Camp Liberty.

“I visited Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] and I was inspired and reminded of all the bravery of all the men and women,” Angie shared. “I’m always just honored to spend time with everyone in the military. I was allowed to come, and I’m privileged to be here.”

FYI: Angie is toting around the Gucci “Weekend” bag.

justjared

Finished up with her visit to the Middle East, Angelina Jolie and her 7-year-old son Maddox were spotted flying into Heathrow Airport in London on Friday (July 24).

The “Wanted” actress led her little guy through the international arrivals terminal, passing by eagerly awaiting paparazzi along the way.

As previously reported, Miss Jolie made the trip overseas to visit Amman, Jordan, where she was honored for her charity work by the Arab Children’s Congress.

During her travels, the “Mr and Mrs Smith” star also visited Baghdad to check in on the rebuilding progress in the war-torn area.

screamingangie

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 23 (UNHCR) – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie returned to Iraq on Thursday to offer support to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who remain displaced within their own country.

During her day-long visit to Baghdad, Jolie visited a makeshift settlement for internally displaced people in the Chikook suburb of north-west Baghdad where she met four families displaced from the district of Abu Ghraib, located to the west of Baghdad, and from the western suburbs of the capital.

Despite the difficulties in Iraq, Jolie said this was a moment of opportunity for Iraqis to rebuild their lives. “This is a moment where things seem to be improving on the ground, but Iraqis need a lot of support and help to rebuild their lives.”

The families that Jolie met complained that their children could not go to school and they could not afford to pay for medical treatment for various ailments. 43-year-old Ali* built his crude brick dwelling in Chikook after escaping from Abu Ghraib district with his 38-year-old wife and six children four years ago.

“The only help that we got was from UNHCR. They are the only people who knocked on our door. But look at this life, it’s very hard on us,” he said. “It takes a lot of strength for you to survive this life. I don’t know if I would be strong enough to survive this,” Jolie told him.

In a nearby house, the acclaimed actress met a family of nine, including children who don’t go to school and a baby with a rash all over its body. Jolie rocked the new-born on her lap throughout the visit. A daughter-in-law studied law before the violence forced the family into flight and ended her education.

“No way,” the family said in unison when asked by Jolie if they wanted to return to their former home district. “Our neighbours returned and their three daughters were killed,” the daughter-in-law, Salwa,* said. “Why is this happening to us?,” she asked.

“They are right to feel that it is not fair,” said Jolie, who pledged to return to Iraq. “I want to come back and find you in a better place and in a different situation. We hope that UNHCR and the government will support you in getting a piece of land. You need help not because you are poor, but because you are the future of Iraq,” she stressed, adding that she hoped Salwa would be able to become a lawyer.

“The picture in this camp is a rough one but there are also some people that were able to return home to other safer areas,” Jolie said later. “There are some changes. There are returns of displaced people, not a big number but there is progress.”

Chikook is home to more than 20,000 people, mostly women and children and including several thousand local people. It lacks drinking water, an operational sewage system and paved roads. The area is littered with garbage, despite a UNHCR-organized clean-up earlier this year.

The UN refugee agency has been trucking in potable water for the residents over the past few months, and has worked on the rehabilitation of the water system and conducted minor shelter repairs.

UNHCR estimates that 1.6 million Iraqis were internally displaced by a wave of sectarian warfare that erupted in February 2006 after the bombing of a mosque in the ancient city of Samarra. Almost 300,000 have returned to their homes amid a general improvement in the security situation since mid-2008.

Since April last year, UNHCR has provided emergency shelter rehabilitation and shelter upgrade to 5,000 families. Close to 20,000 homes will be rehabilitated by the end of this year. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees remain in neighbouring countries, mainly Syria and Jordan.

Jolie was making her third trip to Iraq. In August 2007, she visited 1,200 refugees trapped in Al Waleed camp near the border with Syria. She also visited the country in February last year, when she highlighted the problems faced by the internally displaced and urged action to help them.

By Abeer Etefa in Baghdad, Iraq

UNHCR.org

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