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Angelina Jolie has said the international community has an "inescapable moral duty" to help the millions of refugees who have been displaced by war and persecution in Syria and other countries around the world.
The actor, who was addressing the UN security council in her role as envoy on refugee issues on Friday, added that she was sickened to see thousands of migrants drowning on Europe’s “doorstep”.
We cannot look at Syria, and the evil that has arisen from the ashes of indecision, and think this is not the lowest point in the world’s inability to protect and defend the innocent.
It is sickening to see thousands of refugees drowning on the doorstep of the world’s wealthiest continent.
No one risks the lives of their children in this way except out of utter desperation.
Amid debate in Europe as to how best to deal with migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean, following the deaths of at least 700 travelling from Libya last week, Jolie said the world must do more to help the estimated 52 million displaced persons, a "sea of excluded humanity", around the globe.
If we cannot end the conflict, we have an inescapable moral duty to help refugees and provide legal avenues to safety.
In response to Jolie’s remarks, the Syrian ambassador to the UN simply said: “She’s beautiful.”
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