NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–31 August 2010 – The United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and award-winning Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie appealed today for the public to step up their financial support for the efforts of aid agencies to bring humanitarian relief to the millions of Pakistanis suffering as a result of the devastating floods that have inundated much of the country.
Ms. Jolie, who serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), released a video message in which she stressed the sheer scale of the disaster, which has left a fifth of the country under water and affected an estimated 17 million people.
“This is not just a humanitarian crisis – it is an economic and social catastrophe,” Ms. Jolie said in the public service announcement.
UNHCR is one of numerous UN agencies that are on the ground in Pakistan to try to provide relief to the flood victims, many of whom face a long wait before they can return to their homes and livelihoods.
“The more support we can give, the greater number of tents, food, clean water and medicine will get to the people in need,” added Ms. Jolie, who has donated $100,000 to UNHCR for its Pakistani flood relief work.
The nearly $460 million sought by the UN and its humanitarian partners in the initial floods response plan for Pakistan is currently 63 per cent covered, having received $291 million in funds and an additional $20 million in pledges.
UNHCR has revised its section of the wider appeal from $41 million to $120 million as the needs of the flood victims continue to outpace the ability of aid groups to respond.
Source: un.org
