Reply #70: Jolie, global leaders speak out on World Refugee Day

[pinboy3niner]

Source: Sofia Echo (Bulgaria)

Mon, Jun 20 2011 14:02 CET
by The Sofia Echo staff


World Refugee Day, June 20, is being marked with the release of disturbing statistics about a 15-year high in forcibly displaced people around the world, while the Italian island of Lampedusa – now internationally a byword for the refugee crisis following upheaval in the Arab world – saw a visit by UN refugee agency goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie.


On the eve of this year's World Refugee Day, Jolie joined the United Nations refugee chief on a visit on Sunday to Lampedusa, where they met some of the tens of thousands of people who have crossed the Mediterranean and descended on the small Italian island after fleeing unrest in North Africa, the UN News Centre said.


More than 40 000 people, including refugees and asylum-seekers, have arrived by boat to Lampedusa since the beginning of 2011, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

...


On June 17, Jolie travelled to a refugee camp in Turkey where she visited with Syrians who had fled the violence in their country.


There are now more than 9600 Syrian refugees living in four camps managed by Turkey and the Turkish Red Crescent along the border area.


http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/06/20/1109323_jolie-global-leaders-speak-out-on-world-refugee-day