Hollywood Megastar Angelina Jolie In Flood-Wrecked Pakistan To ‘Wake Up’ World

Iconic Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie is visiting Pakistan to support those affected by unrelenting floods. The actor, also a humanitarian of note, arrived in flood-ravaged Dadu on Tuesday by a helicopter, according to a report. Foolproof security was ensured. The UNHCR special envoy interacted with women impacted by the climate catastrophe on the occasion to learn first-hand about their needs and experiences. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) had announced that the Hollywood star was visiting Pakistan to “support communities affected by the devastating floods” in a statement issued on Monday. “Ms Jolie is visiting to witness and gain understanding of the situation, and to hear from people affected directly about their needs, and about steps to prevent such suffering in the future,” the IRC said. Jolie had earlier visited earthquake-hit Pakistan in 2005 and in 2010 after heavy rains led to a humanitarian disaster considered one of the worst in the nation’s history. “Ms 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. Ms Jolie will see first hand how countries like Pakistan are paying the greatest cost for a crisis they did not cause, the organisation said. The climate crisis had been destroying lives and futures in Pakistan with severe consequences especially for women and children, IRC country director Shabnam Baloch said. “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,” Baloch said. Unrelenting rains and consequent floods have left one-third of Pakistan inundated and affected 33 million people. The government of Pakistan had earlier pegged damage from the monster monsoon at US$30 billion when United Nations visited top boss Antonio Guterres visited the country on what was termed a “solidarity visit”.