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Jolie
laments children's plight in Darfur, calls for more security
Date: 27 Oct 2004 | UNHCR News Stories
KHARTOUM,
Sudan, Oct 27 (UNHCR) – The need for security and access
to displaced people's home villages were the key concerns raised
by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie as she ended a three-day
visit to Sudan's strife-torn West Darfur province today.
The Goodwill Ambassador started her mission to West Darfur on
Monday, visiting camps to see first-hand the situation of tens
of thousands of internally displaced people. She returned to the
Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to share her observations in a press
conference on Wednesday.
Jolie recounted stories of village raids and rapes, including
the gang rape last week of a 12-year-old girl and her mother.
"These events are recent and horrifying. And they show that
there is still instability," she lamented.
"I met with many children who have been trapped in the middle
of this conflict. They were wearing clothes full of holes, that
were falling off. They have no access to school or medical attention,"
she added. "But when asked what they need, before food and
clothes, they said security first. The fact is no place is 100
percent safe."
Jolie noted that UNHCR's focus in West Darfur is to look at conditions
in the villages and places of origin, and to assess the needs
of the people and possibilities for returns. "Obviously returns
are something this government would like to see happen. But from
the sense I got from the people and from my observations during
this visit, it is clearly not right now. When it is time for return,
it is important that it be done in safety and dignity," she
stressed.
While in the field, Jolie witnessed the close cooperation between
UNHCR and other UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.
"I spent a lot of time with INTERSOS, and they are doing
amazing work," she said. "I met with one of the officers
working with the African Union. He helped me to understand the
very unique collaboration that is the AU. Mainly it is Africa
helping Africa and that is a great thing."
She emphasised however, that much more needs to be done to support
the UN and NGOs on the ground. "The main challenge is access
to populations, infrastructure, security. UNHCR must have access
to places of origin so they can do their work properly,"
she said. "Improving the situation in West Darfur and providing
effective protection and assistance to internally displaced persons
are only possible when agencies such as UNHCR are properly funded."
There are an estimated 1.6 million internally displaced persons
in the three provinces of the Darfur region. Another 200,000 have
fled to neighbouring Chad, where most of them are hosted in 11
UNHCR camps, some of which Jolie visited in June this year.
UNHCR's current budget for eastern Chad and Darfur totals $115
million through the end of this year. The agency is re-assessing
its needs in view of its expanded role in West Darfur.
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