Angelina Jolie Explains how Global Refugee Crisis is Worsening
Angelina Jolie is an American actress, humanitarian, and filmmaker as well. She is also a contributing editor to TIME and special envoy to the UNHCR. In the light of racism and discrimination in the United States, the well-known actress decided it was time to look at oppression and persecution of people across the globe. According to the UN refugee agency, roughly 80 million individuals are facing violence and persecution. Most of them are refugees seeking asylum while others are internally-displaced in their home countries.
The Situation on the Ground
Typically, many people are running away from attacks on hospitals and schools. Sexual violence has skyrocketed as everyone starves due to lack of food and water. In addition to that, scores of people are subjected to persecution based on their religion, sexuality, and gender. According to Angelina Jolie, individuals are leaving their homes due to lack of security. The numbers have surged in comparison to the year 2010.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected with the statistics tripling since 2010. On that account, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is supporting many internally displaced persons. Even worse, the cascading effects of COVID-19 have made the situation worse since a majority of the population doesn’t have food to eat.
Ray of Hope for Refugees
In 2000, Angeline Jolie witnessed the crisis firsthand since she helped refugees to return to their countries. Some of them went back to Bosnia, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia. The activities entailed rebuilding of homes, clearing landmines, opening markets, and roads. International institutions played a role in ensuring that victims got justice.
Safety improved between mid 1990 and 2010 due to the effective peace agreements in the respective countries. On that account, the number of people displaced remained constant since refugees built homes and settled down. In addition to that, some sought homage in the neighboring countries and continued living stable lives.
Drastic Change for the Worst
From 2010 onwards, things took a turn for the worst since the existing solutions and justice for refuges diminished. Angelina Jolie said that she visited refugees in Syria during her line of work and discovered that those who were children at the time had families now. The bad news is that they still live in deplorable conditions in tent encampments. In addition to that, financial aid is becoming scarce; hence, it will be a dream for them to return to their safe homes.
There are several factors that have made it difficult for refugees to get funds to live a better life. In the past 10 years, global recession has contributed to hardship and boiling anger. Despite that, some communities and countries have been philanthropic and helped out refugees living around them.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some refugees are frontline workers serving as healthcare professionals. Even though they are of great help, they still face harshness such as racism and xenophobia. The media and politics also dehumanize them regardless of their outstanding work.
Solving the Problem
For starters, countries should stop choosing the countries to help when it comes to offering financial aid. Plus, tailoring asylum policies to suit specific people is not prudent since all refuges need help. As per Angelina Jolie’s sentiments, we are all born equal meaning that no one should face segregation or discrimination.
For that reason, it is crucial to fight for the rights of refugees universally. Standards of living can differ but there is one goal and that is to ensure that everyone around you is safe. Typically, refugees hope to go back to their original homes is security is stable. It is up to various stakeholders to solve conflicts in the countries so that peace prevails again. This way, women, men, and children can experience safety and resume their normal lives.
Human displacement is a crisis that needs to be addressed since it can blow up anytime. Settling disagreements will reduce the number of refugees that is increasing as the days progress.