KARACHI:
“I feel overwhelmed but I feel it is not fair to say that since I am not living this.” Speaking from the heart, humanitarian and actor Angelina Jolie visited the National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC) on Wednesday.
Jolie, visiting Pakistan to show solidarity and support for flood victims, stated that the countries that have contributed least to climate change are suffering its most vicious impact. “I’ve never seen anything like this and I have been to Pakistan many times,” she said.
Jolie said that she first came to Pakistan because of the generosity the people of the country had shown to the people of Afghanistan over the years as a host country. “It is often seen that the countries that don’t have as much give more than so many other countries,” she continued.
Countries that are causing less damage to the environment are now bearing the brunt of the disaster, the pain and the death, she said. “I am absolutely with you in pushing the international community to do more. I feel that we say that often… we speak of aid appeals, relief and support but this is something very, very different,” she added.
Read more: Angelina Jolie arrives in Pakistan to help flood affectees
The actor said that the flood devastation in Pakistan was a wake-up call for the entire world. “Climate change is not only real and it is not only coming, it is here,” she warned.
“Even as somebody who has been in humanitarian aid for many years we think of crisis on how to solve it and what can we do in order to help rebuild or help the children. Now we’re in a situation like this where the needs are so great and truly every effort means life or death for so many people.”
Jolie said that she has been visiting the flood-affected areas with the Pakistan Army and her colleagues at the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
“I’ve seen the lives that were saved but I’ve also seen… I’ve been speaking to people and thinking that if enough aid doesn’t come they won’t be here in next few weeks… they won’t make it,” she added.
Jolie said that so many children have been rendered malnourished due to the devastating floods. “Even if they make it next few months with the winter coming and the destruction of the crops and the hard reality … I am overwhelmed but I feel it is not fair to say that because I am not living this so I simply try to speak out for help. I can’t even imagine what it feels like to be there.”
Jolie said that she is in Pakistan as a friend. “I will return and continue to return and my heart is very, very much with the people at this time,” she further said.
She urged the international community to send more aid to help flood victims in Pakistan. “I keep thinking that if more help does not come quickly, they will not make it.”
Deputy Chairman NFRCC Ahsan Iqbal welcomed the American actor and thanked her for visiting Pakistan during the most devastating floods in the history of the country.
