OlderAngelina Jolie in Chad
During a visit to the Oure-Cassoni camp in eastern Chad, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie listens to refugee women from the Darfur region in Sudan. CLICK HERE to find out why Angelina Jolie is visiting this camp!
UPDATE :: Read Angelina Jolie’s article about “Justice for Darfur.” The first line reads, “Here, at this refugee camp on the border of Sudan, nothing separates us from Darfur but a small stretch of desert and a line on a map.”
Angelina Jolie visits camp in Chad to assess situation for Darfur refugees
By Matthew Conway in Bahai, Chad
BAHAI, Chad, February 27 (UNHCR) – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie on Tuesday completed a two-day mission to a refugee camp in eastern Chad which enabled her to assess how the security situation has deteriorated for Sudanese refugees since her last visit to Chad three years ago.
Jolie, who visited both Chad and neighbouring Sudan’s Darfur region with UNHCR in 2004, said she was struck by the sense of hope she encountered at the Oure-Cassoni camp near this town and by the widespread desire for peace-keepers to be deployed in Chad.
She also reflected on the hardship and suffering she had seen at the camp, which is located less than five kilometres from the border with Sudan. “It’s always hard to see decent people, families, living in such difficult conditions,” she said. “What is most upsetting is how long it is taking the international community to answer this crisis,” Jolie added.
The award-winning actress had to travel through a sandstorm on Monday to reach the Oure-Cassoni camp, which with a refugee population of more than 26,000 is the northernmost of 12 UNHCR-run camps in eastern Chad housing more than 230,000 refugees from Sudan’s troubled Darfur region.
She was greeted at one of the camp’s many primary schools by singing children as the desert wind whipped against the plastic sheeting serving as the structure’s roof and walls. The encroaching sands and storms make their hard life even tougher, with many of the tents and mud-brick houses partially or completely buried. Wood for cooking and heat is scarce in the region, and competition for the resource causes friction between the refugee and local populations.
Refugee women are sometimes sexually and physically abused while out collecting the precious scraps of firewood beyond the protection of police provided by the Chadian government to help ensure refugee security.
At the school, Jolie listened to children’s tales of daily life, their concerns and their hopes of one day returning to their homes in Darfur. The room was filled with laughter as she and the children took turns drawing for each other. She later visited mentally ill refugees.
On Tuesday, Jolie visited a man-made reservoir that feeds the camp with water, but which is now almost empty following disappointing rains last year. Its shrinking reserves are a matter of concern for the refugees and UNHCR.
She then sat down with a group of women and discussed their desire for access to income-generating activities as well as their longing to return home. But the women, who were preparing celebrations for International Women’s Day on March 8, said it was still not safe enough across the border and many of the refugees she spoke to supported calls for a peace-keeping force in Chad.
In a report last week to the United Nations Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed sending a multi-dimensional peace-keeping mission to Chad to protect civilians and deter cross-border attacks.
The refugees Jolie talked to also drew comfort from recent radio reports saying that the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) had told the Security Council it had credible evidence of grave crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.
“Today, many refugees seemed to have a new sense of hope, and they want to see those guilty brought to trial . . . In order to feel safe enough to return home, these people said they would need to know that the men who attacked them had been stripped of their weapons,” Jolie said. “This is a very important day for international justice. The decisions of the ICC could make a big difference in the lives of these women and their children.”
Jolie had high praise for the UNHCR staff and NGO workers that she met in the camp. “Years into this situation, now finding themselves coming under attack, humanitarian workers’ spirits are unbroken,” she said.
There are more than 230,000 refugees from Sudan in eastern Chad, while some 46,000 refugees from the Central African Republic have found shelter in southern Chad. In addition to these refugees, close to 120,000 Chadians are displaced in the eastern region of their own country.
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617 Comments
Dirty Denise Says:
The captions were incorrect. Jane Pitt is in the pixs with her granddaughters.
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Izzie Says:
February 27th, 2007 at 11:30 pm - flag comment
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Ok I understand duty will be calling. I’ll be lurking I can at least great you when you come on tomarrow. I enjoyed this evening also. Nice to just hang out with cyber buds. Get some rest.
before I came over to Jared’s site I used to post at Perez & I am happy I saw Jared site for BAZMS fans. Someone mentioned it & gave it a try & I love it here. Posters at perez & TMZ & others are so vile & rude. Never again will got back there. I hread about Femalefirst & I am not visit that site either.
Bermy, I got my arm twisted by Sheri, so stick around. OK, Sheri if I can’t get up early enough its all your fault :lol: Hey I need a scape-goat OK :lol:
Hiya Dirty Denise, waz-up? Missed your posts, glad you are back.
Marla, great post! thanks Marla said it very it well. I missed that post jogging between two computers and a glass of wine in my hand :lol: Seriously ITA…
Izzie- so glad to see your posts, but I am still ticked off your Florida gators ruined our chances for the national title in football :lol: But now we are going strong in basketball, whoopp!!!
http://www.news_leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/ENTERTAINMENT01/702020327/1021
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Mrs. Smith Says:
BTW, what’s the occasion for the party?
Shiloh is nine months old.
Goodnight Izzie, it was fun “partying” with you. Good luck tomarrow.
Sheri- the post was on pg 6, middle
Grandma Pitt looks like she is wearing a shoe that fits after a cast or large bandage is put on, I had to wear one for awhile and that’s what it looked like.
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bluemoon Says:
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Yep, that’s a walking foot cast on Jane Pitt’s foot in that pix. There is always someone at my workplace in one-seems as soon as one person gets out of theirs another coworker gets one put on.
Happy 4 you Angie.
Thanks Jared.
whatever:
If you are going to hate & be critical of someone you despise, please do some research so in the end you will not look & sound so stupid. Because at the end of the day your hate & stupidity will come back to haunt you.
Try this.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID/20070202/ENTERTAINMENT01/702020327/1021
Sorry. I tried.
I’ve never been to FF, but have read the comments in Perez Hilton.
Dirty Denise, Izzie,Sheri and any others who venture to engage some of those people: may the force be with you!
What I find fascinating about the internet is that we’re forced to become more aware of the different types of mentalities that exist in this world. I mean let’s face it - it’s possible to live your lives whereby the people you work with, socialize with, etc. think and look and act like you.
A place like Perez forcibly reminds you that the world is filled with the good the bad and the ugly.
I honestly think that, while the regulars here obviously don’t look or act alike, there is a certain commonality or sense of values (?)(other than being BAMZS fans) that we share.
It would be fascinating if one day we had a convention (like the trekkies do). I’m sure we’d be amazed.
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guli Says:
February 27th, 2007 at 11:37 pm - flag comment
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I’m sorry I twisted. I’m only here for another 1/2 hr myself. If you need to go..sniff, I understand…snif. No really if you need to go, have pleasant dreams. But I am a wonderful scape goat!
Susie, Sheri, Guli, Bermy Girl - Great fun tonight. You gave me a laugh about the drunk blogging versus drunk dialing, Susie. Now I’m guilty of both….
You guys are so funny, I am twenty minutes past sleep, but well worth it.
Nighty night, for real. Be safe in your travels - Peace and out….
bermy girl-
ITA, I always think it’s so interesting that this site has woman who are a little older(usually) and by that I mean age 30 and up, educated, well informed and fun and funny. I found this site kinda by accident and I am so happy I did. I still will never read the comments at other blogs because they sound awful, thank god for all of you and JJ. :)
kk1 - are you still there? Where did you stay in a sandstorm?
Sigh. There’s no reason why this outrage cannot be stopped. Not that I’m advocating US military intervention in this case, but the fact of the matter is, the war could have been stopped, and all the refugees safely sent back home, for less than 1/10 the costs - both in lives and resources - of the war in Iraq. And the human rewards would have easily been 10 times greater.
It’s all a matter of wildly misguided policies, and complete lack of political will on the part of the international community.
100 years from now our descendants will be amazed at the atrocities that we so easily shrug off today, and wonder aloud what kind of ogres were we, to allow such outrages to go on year after year after year…
Love ya, Angie. Proud of ya.
I usually enjoy staying on the sidelines when negative comments are being made, but tonight I cannot restrain myself from some of the criticisms levied at Angie.
To compare her humanitarian efforts with mega-rich Oprah and Bill Gates is totally ludicrous. As was so eloquently posted earlier, they all deserve to be applauded for their individual efforts. As Angie has said before it doesn’t matter if you’re a mother or a wealthy person on a local or worldwide stage everyone makes a difference in their own way.
And in response to J.H.’s #129 post. She had a school built in Cambodia for 500 hundred students including school uniforms and school supplies, in addition to funding the Maddox-Chivan Children’s Center that cares for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. In Ethiopia she helped fund an AIDS clinic, and she plans to do more in that country. Not to mention the medical equipment for the pediatric ward in two hospitals in Nambia. Those are just a few of the concrete projects she has put her money towards. Sorry…but she does more than fly around the globe and take notes. As has been mentioned earlier, it’s criticism just for the sake of criticism without any validity.
On a lighter note…I agree with you guys (org Ruth, Angelah & Izzie) about the photo reminding you of the alternate ending of MAMS. I thought of that scene immediately when I saw the photo.
Okay…back to the sidelines.
OK ladies! it was great for a trial run and we’ll have plenty more. Remember no one can ruin us having fun unless we let them! Sheri another 20 mins than I am hitting the hay :lol:
Here is Brad’s projects from simply brad…
BABEL
As:Richard
Status:In theatres
Release:Oct 27th 2006
Info | Official | Gallery
JESSE JAMES
As:Jesse James
Status:Completed
Release:Sept 14th 2007
Info | Official | Gallery
OCEAN’S THIRTEEN
As:Rusty Ryan
Status:Completed
Release:June 08th 2007
Info | Official | Gallery
BENJAMIN BUTTON
As:Benjamin Button
Status:Filming
Release:May 2008
Info | Official | Gallery
DALLAS BUYER’S CLUB
As:Unknown
Status:Announced
Release:2008
Info | Official | Gallery
STATE OF PLAY
As:Cal McCaffrey
Status:Announced
Release:2008
Info | Official | Gallery
CHAD SCHMIDT
As:Chad Schmidt/Himself
Status:Announced
Release:2008
Info | Official | Gallery
And yes the O13 premier will be at Cannes in May! Darn it this is too much to look forward to.
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bermy girl Says:
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It’s been stated someplace that most of the woman who identify with Angie are stronge independant woman. Woman who can as the song goes “bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never, never let you forget your a man.” Ok stepping away from the wine glass but you know what I mean. We all know our self worth, it’s not dictated by a man. We see the world, we worry about our own corners of it, but we get the big picture. I don’t have kids but from chatting with Susie I see and understand other peoples fierce protection and love, but at the same time allowing them to be their own little people. We are not cookie cutter. Stepping off of the soap box!
Sheri- well said, we all admire AJ and are alot like her, no wallflowers here.
I too am going to get ready for bed, I get up so early! I have had alot of fun here tonight, thank you Sheri, Izzie, bermy girl, Guli did I miss someone? sorry.
Guli I’m right there with you! Thanks for the run down. Somebody said that Brad had nothing in the future (hater) that should be posted at least on every other page of a thread. If I don’t chat with you good night. It was wonderful having you here for a full evening. We are very fortunate!
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alicet Says:
February 27th, 2007 at 8:07 pm - flag comment
Angie is truly amazing. I hope she is able to bring much needed attention to the plight of the refugees at Darfur. I believe that her trip was set to coincide with the ongoing trials at the Internation Criminal Court against the principal perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur that is being reported now.
lylian: yes, i think you are right. the visit is timed to draw attention to something, be it the ICC trials or may be just the desparate shortage of funds to support these refugees.
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Vanessa Says:
February 27th, 2007 at 9:33 pm - flag comment
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Insider Says:
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go and ask aniston to donate some money. we all know she has 110M. your jen is so CHEAP. She wont even pick up her mother’s living expense. right now, her mother is living in a LA indigent care.
lylian: Vanessa, I’m not a fan of Jennifer but unless you can prove that Jen’s mother is living in a LA indigent care, please do not say it. If you can show some evidence, not published by the national enquirer, then by all means ….
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Sheri Says:
February 28th, 2007 at 12:05 am - flag comment
Guli I’m right there with you! Thanks for the run down. Somebody said that Brad had nothing in the future (hater) that should be posted at least on every other page of a thread. If I don’t chat with you good night. It was wonderful having you here for a full evening. We are very fortunate!
Sheri, even if Brad and Angelina having nothing really on, its not because they can’t have something on if they want to but because they choose to. More then once, both Brad and Angelina have indicated that they see their professional lives taking a different turn from acting. Sure, they may still act in smaller roles, smaller films. Both want to focus on their families. As for their movie careers, I think Brad will do more production and Angelina focus on her humanitarian work.
it will take the publicity heat off them and their families and I think they are ready for that.
Susie, Sheri - ITA And if the qualities you’re both speaking of equate to being a brangeloonie, then that’s a name I’ll wear with honour. Don’t know about the old part though Susie. I’m 25, I’ve been that age for the past several decades - that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! :)
Now, it’s 1.00 a.m. here and despite my “eternal youth”, I still need to sleep. Nice chatting with you ladies and I’ll check in tomorrow.
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