Hollywood actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie travelled to the Tunisian-Libyan border, where she spoke with people who had recently fled the fighting in Libya and highlighted the need for greater international support for those affected by the crisis.

Jolie, who advocates on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), commended the outpouring of generosity from the Tunisian people, saying it is a sign of the openness sweeping across the region.

Tunisia has received more than half of the outflow from Libya, according to UNHCR, which reports that at least 400,000 people have escaped the violence in the last month alone. The neighbouring countries of Egypt, Niger, Algeria, Chad and Sudan have also taken in people fleeing the fighting that has erupted between pro- and anti-Government supporters.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the flash appeal for Libya has been updated from $160 million to 310.8 million dollars. The first appeal had received 113 million dollars, or 70 percent, in funding. OCHA said it is estimated that over 1.5 million people may be affected by the conflict and require some form of humanitarian assistance.

During Jolie’s visit, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation has covered the costs for a flight of 177 persons to return to their countries of origin and bought an ambulance to help support Tunisian efforts on the border to assist the injured arriving from Libya.

She also highlighted the plight of some 2,500 people from war-torn countries who are among those who left Libya and are unable to return home and thus require international protection.

Courtesy: United Nations & UN High Commissioner for Refugees