The United Nations High Commission for Refugees envoy and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, who arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon, visited Dadu district of Sindh province to review rescue and relief activities and devastations caused by the floods.
The Hollywood star flew by helicopter to Dadu, where she was closely guarded upon arrival.
The actress took a boat as well to observe and comprehend the devastation caused by the disastrous floods.
Additionally, she heard directly from the afflicted ladies about their needs and ways to stop similar suffering in the future.
According to a press release issued by the International Rescue Committee, Angelina Jolie arrived in Pakistan 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 visit will help draw the world’s attention to the flood victims. More than 1500 people died from the flood, and more than 33 million people were affected.
Ms Jolie, who previously visited victims of the 2010 floods in Pakistan, and the 2005 earthquake, will visit the IRC’s emergency response operations and local organisations assisting displaced people including Afghan refugees.
Pakistan, which has contributed just 1% of global carbon emissions, is also the second largest host of refugees globally, its people having sheltered Afghan refugees for over forty years.
Ms Angelina Jolie will highlight the need for urgent support for the Pakistani people and long-term solutions to address the multiplying crises of climate change, human displacement and protracted insecurity we are witnessing globally.
More than 1,500 people have died from the floods since mid-June, nearly 400 of them children, while millions have been displaced, according to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
“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.” Shabnam Baloch, Pakistan Country Director at the IRC said.
Pakistan, which was already grappling with political and economic turmoil, has been thrown into the front line of the human-induced climate crisis.
Pakistan’s monsoon season usually brings heavy downpours, but this year’s has been the wettest since records began in 1961, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department Torrential monsoon rainfall — 10 times heavier than usual has caused the Indus River to overflow, effectively creating a long lake, tens of kilometers wide.
