Angelina Jolie was in northern Iraq where she visited victims of ISIS who have been displaced in refugee camps.
Angelina Jolie was in northern Iraq this weekend, visiting the victims of ISIS and the Syrian war who have been displaced and now living in refugee camps.
The Unbroken director made the trip as the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, announced that it is facing a severe financial shortfall, having only received about half of the $337 million it needs to support displaced people within Iraq.
According to the UNHCR, over 7 million Syrians and around 3 million Iraqis remain internally displaced from the ongoing Syrian civil war and attacks by the extremist group ISIS. While 4 million Syrian refugees are trying to survive in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.
During her visit to the Khanke Camp for Internally Displaced People, Angelina made a plea to the international community to pledge more money in order to prevent an even bigger catastrophe.
'Too many innocent people are paying the price of the conflict in Syria and spread of extremism,' she said in her speech. 'The international community has to step up and do more.
'It is not enough to defend our values at home. We have to defend them here, in the camps and in the informal settlements across the Middle East, and in the ruined towns of Iraq and Syria. We are being tested here, as an international community, and so far – for all the immense efforts and good intentions – we are failing.'
Clearly moved by what she had seen in the camp, she continued: 'I have met mothers whose children have been kidnapped by ISIL. As a parent, I couldn't imagine a greater horror. They are overwhelmed by thoughts of what is happening to their children. Nothing can prepare you for the horrific stories of these survivors of kidnap, abuse and exploitation and to see how they cannot all get the urgent help they need and deserve.'
Watch her full speech below...