Angelina Jolie has taken her passionate stance on the current Iraqi refugee to the pages of the Washington Post, in an op-ed article titled “Staying to Help in Iraq.”
The Oscar-winning actress, who also serves as a goodwill ambassador for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, says the phrase, “Bring them home,” has another meaning in Iraq.
“It does not refer to the departure of U.S. troops, but to the return of the millions of innocent Iraqis who have been driven out of their homes and, in many cases, out of the country,” Jolie writes.
Jolie, who has met with Army Gen. David Petraeus and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during her multiple visits to the war-torn country, is hopeful the time is right for a change.
“Now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do,” she added.
As for where the support needs to come from, Angelina looks to the presidential hopefuls and members of Congress to help implement change.
“I would like to call on each of the presidential candidates and congressional leaders to announce a comprehensive refugee plan with a specific timeline and budget as part of their Iraq strategy.” Jolie writes in her article.
Without a change in the refugee situation, Jolie believes the outcome could be disastrous for everyone.
“Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won’t explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?” she asks.
For Angelina Jolie’s entire Washington Post article, click here.
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