Angelina Jolie, an international humanitarian, will visit Pakistan on September 19, 2022, to support communities affected by the devastating floods. Heavy rain and flooding has flooded one third of the country across the country, affecting 33 million people.
Angelina Jolie visit to gain a better understanding of the situation and to hear directly from people affected about their needs and what can be done to prevent such suffering in the future.
She will also visit local organizations that assist displaced people including Afghan refugees who have been affected by the 2010 floods in Pakistan, as well as the 2005 earthquake.
Pakistan, which has contributed just 1% of global carbon emissions, is also the second largest refugee host in the world, having hosted Afghan refugees since the 1960s.
As we witness multiple crises of climate change, human displacement, and protracted insecurity around the world, Jolie will highlight the significance of urgent support for the Pakistani people and long-term solutions.
During Ms Jolie’s visit, she will have the opportunity to observe how countries like Pakistan are paying the highest price for a crisis they didn’t cause. In addition, the IRC hopes that her visit will shed light on this issue and prompt the international community – particularly those states that contribute most to carbon emissions – to take action and provide urgent support for countries in crisis.
In a statement, Shabnam Baloch, Pakistan Country Director at the IRC, stated:
“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. 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.”
According to the IRC’s latest needs assessment, people are in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and healthcare. According to every person surveyed, women and girls do not have access to menstrual hygiene products.
In order to address the sanitation and menstrual needs of women and girls, the IRC has provided dignity and hygiene kits to more than 50,000 women and girls.
Almost 950,000 people have been reached with emergency supplies, food, healthcare, and safe spaces by us in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh since early July.
