Angelina Jolie calls for Syrian aid

Angelina Jolie pleaded for aid for the Syrian crisis at World Refugee Day yesterday (06.20.13).

The ‘Tomb Raider’ star – a prolific humanitarian and a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency – spoke at a conference which took place at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, the country’s largest haven for those seeking asylum from the civil war in Syria.

Angelina said: "The Syrian crisis here in Jordan and across the region is the most acute humanitarian crisis anywhere in the world today.

"Refugees from the Syrian conflict have left behind a country in which millions of people are displaced … and where at least 93,000 have been killed: the friends, neighbours, fathers, mothers and children of people in this camp today."

The 38-year-old star – who was accompanied at the event by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres – also urged world leaders to work harder to stop the bloodshed.

She added: "I pray that all parties in the Syrian conflict will stop targeting civilians and allow access to humanitarian aid.

"One point six million people have poured out of Syria, with nothing but the clothes on their back, and more than half them are children.

"They have left behind a country in which millions of people are displaced, suffering hunger, deprivation and fear."

Jordan hosts more than half a million displaced Syrians, including 185,000 in Zaatari, which has become Jordan’s fourth largest populated city.

It is the Oscar-winning actress’s first appearance with the UN refugee agency since her recent double mastectomy.

Mother-of-six Angelina, who is engaged to Brad Pitt, underwent the surgery after finding out she has an inherited genetic mutation that puts her at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.