Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has spoken out for Gaza, calling for shelter and humanitarian aid for its people as winter approaches.
In an Instagram post, Jolie said, “You can now open Google Earth and see what was done to Gaza. Whole neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble. Homes, schools, universities, hospitals, roads, water and sanitation systems, infrastructure that people depended on to survive have been damaged or destroyed.”
“As winter approaches, 1.98 million people, or 94 per cent of Gaza’s population, need shelter assistance and essential items. Aid and shelter materials continue to face restrictions and delays”, she added.
She demanded, saying, “People need shelter before winter. Humanitarian aid needs to reach civilians at the scale required. Hospitals need medical supplies. And the conditions that allow civilians to rebuild their homes, schools, hospitals and communities need to be created.”
Earlier this year, Angelina Jolie visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing to assess humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 74,229.
Not only this, but she toured Egyptian Red Crescent logistical warehouses and visited injured Palestinians receiving medical care. She has also strongly criticised the Israeli military’s bombardment and siege of Gaza.
She began her humanitarian work with the UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) but later left her role, wanting to work directly with local organisations. She completed more than 60 field missions to crisis-affected regions across dozens of countries, including Pakistan.