TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Angelina Jolie: We're living in era of 'mass displacement'

After visiting a camp for Syrian refugees in southeastern Turkey on Saturday, actress Angelina Jolie said the world is living through an era of mass displacement

The Jakarta Post
Mardin, Turkey
Sun, June 21, 2015 Published on Jun. 21, 2015 Published on 2015-06-21T06:09:08+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

A

fter visiting a camp for Syrian refugees in southeastern Turkey on Saturday, actress Angelina Jolie said the world is living through an era of mass displacement.

Jolie, reading from a prepared speech alongside United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees Antonio Guterres, told journalists that "never before have so many people been dispossessed or stripped of their human rights."

Jolie's visit is the latest in a series of visits to Turkey as part of her work as the UNHCR's special envoy. It is meant to bring attention to the plight of refugees, whose number has reached a record 60 million worldwide, according to the U.N.

As numbers increase, many countries are scrambling to find ways to close their doors to the new arrivals. Hungary recently announced plans to build a 4-meter (13-foot) high fence on the border with Serbia to stop the flow of migrants from Asia and Africa, and anti-immigrant sentiment has flared elsewhere in Europe.

Jolie spoke of the problem in general terms.

"People are running out of places to run to," she said, emphasizing "the need to be open and tolerant to people ... who may not be able to return home."

Turkey now officially hosts the world's largest refugee community '€” about 1.6 million, according the latest U.N. figures. As the war in neighboring Syria rages into its fifth year, the flow shows no sign of abating.

"We don't know how many more will be coming," said Fuat Oktay, the chief of Turkey's disaster and emergency agency. "There's a huge risk that the number might increase." (dmr)

 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.