Angelina Jolie Visits Afghanistan

Angelina Jolie has returned home after visiting poverty-stricken families in Afghanistan last week.

The 33-year-actress spent last Wednesday and Thursday (October 22-23) in the country as part of her duties as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and visited with refugees who have returned to the country and are attempting to build new homes.

“Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 more than five million Afghans have returned home,” she said. “Afghanistan has been struggling to absorb these massive returns. These families have been displaced for nearly 30 years and many of them face difficulties including food, shelter and basic services such as healthcare and education. They have suffered so much yet they remain gracious.”

Jolie spent her time in Nangarhar and Kabul, and raised awareness of a conference in Kabul next month to discuss the issue of the repatriation of refugees.

“The courage, resilience and quiet dignity of returnee families rebuilding their lives against the kind of adversity few of us can imagine shows the human spirit at its best.”