Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie visited Mosul in Iraq with United Nations Refugee Agency on Saturday. Although a year after Mosul's liberation from ISIS, the city continues to struggle from after-effects of war. Remains of toppled-down buildings on dusty roads have become a normal sight since ISIS took control of it three years ago. This is Jolie's fifth visit to Iraq with the UN since 2001. With the visit, the actor aims to raise awareness about the condition of the residents.
Jolie who is a special envoy for UNHCR has called on the international community to help rebuild and stabilize the city. People of Mosul still have no running water, medical services or assistance to rebuild their homes.
“This is the worst devastation I have seen in all my years working with UNHCR"
Our Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visits Mosul in Iraq, and urges the world not to forget the people of the city. https://t.co/s22hAmQT0b
— UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) June 16, 2018
UNHCR's website quotes Jolie as saying, "This is the worst devastation I have seen in all my years working with UNHCR. People here have lost everything: their homes are destroyed. They are destitute. They have no medicine for their children, and many have no running water or basic services. They are still surrounded by bodies in the rubble. After the unimaginable trauma of the occupation, they are now trying to rebuild their homes, often with little or no assistance."
الا يجب محاكمة ومحاسبة من تسببوا بدمار #الموصل وباقي المدن العراقية وقتل اَهلها؟ الا يجب فتح ملف المختطفين والمعتقلين والمهجرين والنازحين؟ الا يجب محاسبة من ترك جثث المدنيين عاما تحت أنقاض منازلهم دون انتشالها ودفنها بما يليق بالإنسان؟ #انجلينا_جولي#AngelinaJoliepic.twitter.com/sADzzCFUDw
— عمر الجنابي (@omartvsd) June 16, 2018
Talking about the terrible conditions in which people are living in the Iraqi city, she said, "We often tend to assume, as an international community, that when the fighting is over, the work is done. But the conditions I observed here in West Mosul are appalling. Displacement is still happening. The camps near the city are still full. Whole areas of West Mosul remain flattened. Enabling people to return and stabilizing the city is essential for the future stability of Iraq and the region."
Jolie's visit comes four days after a report confirmed that Jolie and her ex-husband Brad Pitt reached a new temporary custody agreement over their six children for this summer. Jolie and Pitt split in September 2016 after two years of marriage and 12 years together. Their next court hearing is set for August 13.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 17, 2018 10:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).