Angelina Jolie has said she has “never seen anything like this before” upon her visit to Pakistan to learn of the flooding.
“I am absolutely with you in pushing the international community to do more,” she said in a video which was later released by the ISPR.
She said she had come to Pakistan before because of the generosity that Pakistani people shown to the people of Afghanistan as a host country. So often countries that don’t have as much are the most giving, she said. “We see the countries that cause less damage to the environment are now bearing the brunt of the disaster.”
She said that there is often talk of appeals, relief and support but the Pakistan floods are a wake-up call for the world.
“We are in a situation like this, where the needs are so great and truly every effort is either life or death for so many people.”
She said she had been speaking to people and thinking that if enough aid doesn’t come, those people won’t be here in the next few weeks. “They won’t make it. Too many children, so malnourished and even if they make it through the next months, the winter is coming and the destruction of the crops and the harsh reality…” she said. She was overwhelmed.
According to a press release issued Tuesday, Jolie was scheduled to visit the flood-affected regions and meet families directly in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and what needs to be done next to help them rehabilitate and re-build.
She visited Dadu where she travelled by helicopter, and was escorted by heavy security on the ground.
Jolie had visited Pakistan to meet victims of the 2010 floods and the 2005 earthquake. This time she will visit IRC’s emergency response operations and organizations helping displaced people, including Afghan refugees.
According to the IRC, Jolie will urge the international community, especially countries most involved in carbon emissions, to provide immediate assistance.
She is expected to emphasize the need for immediate assistance for the Pakistani people as well as long-term solutions to the global crises of climate change, human displacement, and prolonged insecurity.
Shabnam Baloch, the Pakistan Country Director at the IRC, said that the climate crisis is destroying lives and futures in Pakistan, with severe consequences especially for women and children.
“The resulting economic loss from these floods will likely lead to food insecurity and an increase in violence against women and girls,” Baloch was quoted as saying in the press release. “We need immediate support to reach people in urgent need, and long term investments to stop climate change from destroying our collective futures. With more rains expected in the coming months, we hope Angelina Jolie’s visit will help the world wake up and take action.”
Due to the devastating rains and floods across Pakistan, one-third of the country is submerged, and more than 33 million people have been affected.