Angelina Jolie has returned to northern Ecuador after 8 years to see what has changed and to highlight the plight of refugees around the world. Jolie, who is the UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, first visited Ecuador in 2002 and her trip comes ahead of World Refugee Day, on Sunday 20th June.
Jolie, along with High Commissioner Antonio Guterres and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took part in a live video event linked in four countries to raise awareness of the continuing effort needed to help internationally displaced people. Jolie, speaking from the remote community of Berranca Bermeja said UNHCR has done extraordinary work. The field officers have been getting out into the Amazon and going up and down the river. They've registered now 50,000 refugees who are so grateful. It's a very moving story.
In times of war and ethnic violence, millions are forced from their homes around the world, and there is a constant need for the international community to help refugees rebuild their lives. Recent unrest in Kyrgyzstan has displaced more than 400,000 people as inter-ethnic fighting rages. The UN has launched an appeal to raise $71 million dollars to help the immediate needs of people caught up in the crisis.
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