Angelina Jolie pleads for the lives of Somali civilians

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Angelina Jolie released a statement Monday afternoon about the increasing violence in Somalia. Honestly, I stopped paying attention to what was happening in Somalia a few years ago when the news just seemed too f-cking depressing. That place really puts the FAIL in “failed state”. It’s not even one country, really. There is no federal government. It’s just a bunch of hyper-aggressive, batsh-t crazy tribes and local militias and Islamic fundamentalists and drug runners and smugglers and pirates and arms dealers and terrorists. Apparently there are “civilians” though, innocent people just trying to live and eat and raise a family in this clusterf-ck of a nation. And while a steady stream of refugees has been flowing out of Somalia into neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya for over a decade, there are still actual neighborhoods and civilian areas in-country. And apparently, these civilian-controlled areas have been increasingly targeted by… God knows who.

The statistics: The UNHCR says that “half of the population of Somalia” are in a constant state of humanitarian crisis. More than 1.4 millions Somalis are internally displaced, meaning that 1.4 million people are basically homeless, jobless, and without the means to take care of themselves. More than 570,000 Somalis are externally displaced refugees, meaning they are living in a state of exile in refugee camps, mostly in Kenya and Ethiopia. In the past three years (since Ethiopia invaded, after having their border with Somalia consistently breeched), thousands of Somali civilians have died in a bloody insurgency. It is into this powder keg of blood-soaked, hyper-violent extremism that Angelina has dipped her toe. Here’s her statement, courtesy of Reuters:

GENEVA, April 19 (UNHCR) – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie on Monday expressed her concern for the lives and the well-being of thousands of displaced people who are trapped in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

More than 170,000 Somalis have been forced from their homes across the country since the beginning of the year. Scores have been killed or injured in recent weeks amid some of the bloodiest fighting to date.

“I am deeply troubled by the complete and utter disregard for human life in Somalia,” Jolie said in a statement released by the UN refugee agency. “Another tragedy is unfolding in Somalia as street battles rage on in Mogadishu, causing incredible suffering, massive displacement and loss of life.”

While thousands of civilians have fled Mogadishu, many others stay behind, displaced and without any means to leave the beleaguered city and the waves of violence between government forces and the Al-Shabaab militia.

“I fear for their lives,” said Jolie. “I appeal to those who carry on fighting not to shell and target civilian neighborhoods.”

The UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, who met Somali refugees last September in north-east Kenya, added her voice to recent calls by High Commissioner Antònio Guterres for more international attention and help for the needy and vulnerable population in Somalia. Continued fighting and general insecurity make it extremely difficult for aid agencies to access and assist the displaced population.

Last week the refugee agency said it was shocked by the further loss of civilian lives in Mogadishu after more than 30 people were reported killed in the city, including children. Residents described last week’s shelling as among the worst in months.

“It is unacceptable that the conflict in Somalia continues to be conducted without respect for the safety of civilians and in clear violation of international humanitarian and human rights principles,” UNHCR’s chief spokesperson, Melissa Fleming, told journalists last Friday in Geneva.

Somalia is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today with half the population in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. There are more than 1.4 million Somalis displaced inside the country and some 570,000 live as refugees in the region.

[From the UNHCR press release and Reuters]

I suppose it doesn’t hurt to ask. “Um, can you stop killing people? Please?” And honestly, it does start with acknowledging that there is a problem, and bringing attention to the problem – especially since the UN will get more coverage if the statement comes from Angelina Jolie rather than Ban Ki-Moon. Also, it helps because the American media has little interest in covering Somali. However – just to defend the media, I doubt any news agency really wants to send a journalist in-country, and I can’t see how many journalists would want to go. It’s a clear-cut suicide mission.

Last September, Angelina visited a Somali refugee camp in Kenya, where she talked about the cholera outbreak that had devastated the camp. These photos are from that trip, courtesy of the UNHCR’s site. There’s also a short video of her visit, narrated by Angelina:

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50 Responses to “Angelina Jolie pleads for the lives of Somali civilians”

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  1. photo jojo says:

    I think she’s got good intentions, honestly. I also think she’s seven different kinds of crazy, but she means well. Sort of like a dotty old aunt who visits you at the holidays and brings you a hideous piece of costume jewelery: she’s trying to do something nice, but the crazy gets in the way.

  2. miranda says:

    Sorry Angie Jo, but none of the Somalian Militias know you from Adam, let alone care what you think. As for raising awareness, what can the general public of the Western World do? Give aid and it will end up in the hands of those who hold the most power and they will use it to buy more arms and so the conflicts continue; send in troops and, well, we’ve all seen Black Hawk Down, right?

  3. bite me says:

    hmm. this thread should be intersting…anyway at least she cares

  4. Fay says:

    miranda- yeah i suppose she should just ignore it then? Ever heard of an NGO?

  5. LDB says:

    Honestly, anyone who is trying to bring awareness to these issues and make an honest difference, has my respect. I do respect the fact that Angelina tries to use her “fame” to bring to light this kind of thing but I would have a ton more respect for her if most of her movies (and the reason we all know who she is in the first place) didn’t involve her holding a gun!

    It is kinda hard to picture “Ms. Smith” or “Lara Croft” in a Mother Teresa kinda way!!

  6. LolaBella says:

    Okay, I’ve read the first paragraph of this post a few times and I have to say that I don’t like the tone of it.

    Why did you find it necessary to type “civilians”? Is there some doubt that people in that area who are not part of the militia and death squads could truly be civilians??

    The statistics which you quote from the UNHCR in my mind clearly support the fact that there are millions of civilians who are caught in this hellhole.

    I come to this site for the bitchiness and snark that we pile onto our beloved celebrities, but this just seemed a bit cavalier, dismissive and disrespectful of the plight that has befallen that area.

    I know you want the readers to weigh in and either Praise Angelina’s efforts or Bash her, but to use this ravaged area as a means to do so just does not sit right with me.

    Is this situation in Somalia Tragic? Yes.

    Is it necessary to be included in a snarky celebrity gossip post? No.

  7. Eileen Yover says:

    I’m looking at those photos and you know those people are thinking “Bitch you must not even have the money to eat you so skinny. What can you do?” She looks like an orange on a toothpick!

    But I do respect her for trying to bring attention to these issues. People are way too eager to pretend things like this don’t exist because everything is good and fine in their little world. It’s overwhelming for us simpletons!

  8. DD says:

    The kind of people she and the UN are appealing to have lost any fabric of humanity. It falls on deaf ears. I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in a country with so much suffering. We are so lucky.

  9. Constance says:

    I agree that it is a nice gesture on her part to use her name-fame to get words across about Somalia. I also agree that the gesture always feels tainted by the fact that she is Angelina- crazy hoarder lady.

    Instead of making a three sentence sound bite, maybe she should be rallying politicians and famewhores alike to put strategies in motion with the surrounding countries who have to take refugees. (I’m sure she had a whole page of goodness and flowers to extend to the murdering anarchists, but it is funny they only used 3 sentences of it.)

    I went to school with a man who’s family luckily made it out leaving Somalia years ago. He has a dreadful life story and works to bring aid to camps outside the country. (For obvious reasons there is no sure way to release aid into the “country.”) Aid groups such as his get little to no name support or lobbying when they truly do need governments’ assistance.

  10. Kaiser says:

    LolaBella – I put “civilians” in quotes just because some of these people are terrorists, are pirates, are homicial insurgents, are al-Qaeda or Queda sympathizers. Just because they don’t wear a uniform, doesn’t make them innocent civilians.

  11. Fay says:

    i agree with lolabella. your tone is very dismissive.

  12. nycmom10024 says:

    While it is true that her statements probably fall on deaf ears with Somalia, I think those who read AP wires and the like for a living with see “Somalia civilians need help”. And maybe one of those folks might pick up a phone and start a negotiation, see who is a leader among the civilian population,anybody have new ideas etc.

    Basically her statements remind people that these folks are still there and need help.

  13. Constance says:

    I don’t think Kaiser contextually came off as dismissive. I think it sounded more like suspicious. If you know anything about the American wars in the Middle East, you know that the plain clothed person holding apples might be your worse nightmare.

  14. meme says:

    I agree with #2 Miranda. “none of the Somalian Militias know you from Adam, let alone care what you think.” I also think it takes a massive ego to even make such a statement. Does she think they are going to listen to her?

  15. bite me says:

    lets see shes a UN Goodwill Abd. i ts her job to make statements like that…

  16. amanda says:

    Fay-
    NGOs are operating in Somalia, but only with national staff, because the expatriate staff are frequently murdered. Doctors Without Borders had to remove all their non-national staff because many of them were killed. Obviously it’s difficult to bring aid to the country if you can’t even get into it without being shot at.

    I don’t think Kaiser was being “dismissive”, whatever that means. Most gossip blogs don’t even mention this kind of stuff. In fact, most American news outlets don’t mention this kind of stuff. I’m not a huge fan of St. Angie, but I do commend the fact that she uses her money and her fame to draw American attention to the plight of several third world nations, which ordinarily would not be covered by American news. The situation in Somalia is terrible, and the people have suffered beyond imagining. I have been blessed to know several Somalis, and they are a beautiful, generous, kind people. While I don’t think her appeal is going to have any impact on anyone actually in Somalia, it’s already had the intended effect of getting people’s attention.

  17. The Damn Nation says:

    “miranda- yeah i suppose she should just ignore it then? Ever heard of an NGO?”

    Yes, the point is in a country as unstable as Somalia they can’t do a damn thing. Outside interference only helps in a situation like a natural disaster – you can ship in food aid, etc… – or if there’s an obvious “bad guy”, i.e. the invasion of Kuwait. Civil wars – Darfur, Yugoslavia, Somalia, Vietnam – you have to let burn out on their own then the organizations can go in and clean up the mess. It’s not uncaring, it’s merely being pragmatic.

    Oh, and I always get the feeling that these trips are more about promoting HER than the poor folks she’s using as media-bait; maybe because everything she does seems to be self-promoting.

  18. anon says:

    there’s been unrest in Somalia for the last 15 years… if you read newspapers and watch news you’re aware of this…(at least in Europe)

  19. bros says:

    lolabella, this was an excellent post, and yes, it does belong here, because it is the best kind ofpost-one that combines advocacy and star wattage, which is the entire point of angelina’s involvement in UNHCR. it means issues like this show up on the internet in places they ordinarily wouldnt-its like a spoonful of sugar making the medicine go down. it absolutely belongs here and I wish there were more of it. Kaiser put ‘civilians’ in quotations precisely because she was questioning how it is possible to even be a civilian when you are living in the midst of turmoil, starvation, militias, violence, pirates, and no functioning government. it was not meant as snarky towards the innocents who have to live in those conditions, but a commentary on the people creating the chaos. I don’t see how the entire point of an article can be so entirely lost on you.

  20. meme says:

    @bite me – there are numerous celebs who are UN ambassadors and they don’t issue direct pleas to subhuman terrorists to please stop hurting people.

  21. bite me says:

    actually yes they do, Ben affleck for instance Lucy Lui i could go on and on but its pointless

  22. meme says:

    they why does angelina insist on issuing statements?

  23. Cheyenne says:

    meme: And your point is? Or are you just snarking for the sake of snarking?

  24. Really says:

    Meanwhile, back at the set on Monday:

    Johnny: “Hey Angie, how was your weekend?”
    Angie: “Oh, well the inlaws took the kids for ice cream. I took a quick trip over to Somalia, begged for peace, handing out some money. Nothing too exciting.”

  25. meme says:

    cheyenne: this is a gossip site not the WSJ. i don’t need to have a point.

  26. a says:

    Kaiser: i agree with you use of “civilians” it’s a very complex situation over there.

  27. hatuh says:

    I am not a fan of Angelina. I think she started all this humanitarian bs to distract from her whole crazy/self-mutilating/drugged-out/practically-having-sex-with-Billy-Bob-on-the-Red-Carpet/making-out-with-her-brother/blood-wearing phase. But the right thing for the wrong reason is still the right thing.

  28. sharylmj says:

    DD #8 I agree with you.. we are so blessed to not live in a place where crazies with a complete lack of regard for human life can come through at any moment and just start shooting. It’s great that Angelina tries to bring awareness, but you are right, it falls on deaf ears. She will keep trying, maybe one day it WILL make a difference.

  29. Lisa says:

    I think what she does is great!!!! And more people should do it….but my question is why do celebrities always pick other countries to do these things in when clearly the USA has a lot of the same things going on! Yes maybe our streets aren’t made of dirt and we don’t live in tents…well most anyways but there are children here starved, abused, ect. Let’s do something here to help our people so that we can in turn be a stronger country that help the others…keep doing what ur doing Angie but let’s see u in the USA helping children and low class families!!!!!!

  30. Dallas says:

    Someone needs to give her a cheeseburger STAT! She looks awful…….

  31. voiceover says:

    LOL@ Really! (#24)

  32. nycmom10024 says:

    You know what is funny? Did you folks read the statement? It did not say she was there this weekend, it said last September. (see paragraph 5 of the reprint and Kaiser’s last paragraph)

    Additionally AJ statement was issued in conjunction with a statement from UNHCR’s chief spokesperson, Melissa Fleming, told journalists last Friday in Geneva.

    It is totally fine to question AJ’s motives but come one folks, at least read the entire article before commenting.

  33. Cheyenne says:

    @ meme: You couldn’t if you tried. But never mind.

  34. Sandy says:

    Looking at these pictures I feel blessed to have things in my life, I think anybody would feel blessed because Somalis have so little. Angie can’t save the world or solve problems in Somalia, but boy does she try.

  35. Girafe99 says:

    @lolabella, totally agree with you, it really pissed me off reading the word civilians in quotation marks, it is this kind of ingnorance that fails to understand that its a minority which tries to impose its will on everyone, where the people suffer the most unimaginable pain, that they don’t even get the dignity and benefit of doubt of being considered innocent but terroists, forget innocent until proven guilty eh?

    You will find in every dark corner of this shitty world, that usually the despots sitting on top shit down on everyone below and its through fear and terror that they get to this position, but to the cynical western media everyone is a potentionally guilty and its this sterotyping that leads to innocent people being put into quotation marks, which fuels further ignorance and intolerance in this world.

  36. teri says:

    Angelina is doing a great service to be involved in the UNHCR. I’m positive they inform her where she’s needed and she is happy to help them. I’ve noticed some think she does it for self promotion reasons but I tend to believe she deeply cares since she’s been doing this ten years now.

  37. bros says:

    everyone who is mightily confused about “civilians” and how it is used here needs to go re-read the post. english comprehension fail.

  38. teri says:

    I couldn’t imagine being born into such a mess as they have. Just stopping the fighting will be a huge start. She has us all talking wheather good or bad but at least people pay attention.

  39. Lilias says:

    Who does she think she’s talking to? Or making this statement to?

    They probably don’t know who she is and don’t care. Some kind of hubris this woman has to assume that someone is going to lay down their weapons and not attack people just because she’s pleading with them to do so.

    Even if she doesn’t expect them to stop just based on her statement, girl needs to understand that making a statement like that is polarizing.

  40. bite me says:

    by the way AJ does help people in the good ole U.S.A. if it matters that much to you to some research on the charities she supports in the states

  41. Naye in VA says:

    i dont get why everyone is like “who does she think she’s talking to , who is really listening”

    well you and i are listening and thats a start. Its doing something, SOMETHING an not just sitting bakc watching it happen. I dont even like AJ but good for her. you think shes gonna stp just cuz it seems like a lost cause. Please lets ONLY ever do things that have a 100% chance of suceeding, especially with human lives invovled

  42. Macheath says:

    @Girafe99
    Well said, I agree. It’s more than a matter of reading comprehension, context and connotation matter also.

  43. Lilias says:

    Naye, way to go hyperbolic.

    You and I are reading her statement, yes. But what will you go do now? Go back to work and forget about it.

    Nothing has a 100% chance of succeeding. But her saying “Please stop shelling these people who are just trying to live” is falling on deaf ears. There is 0% chance of that nonsense succeeding.

  44. Kim says:

    Lisa, the Jolie Pitt foundation donated $ 5 million to Make It Right to build homes in New Orleans.

  45. LindaLu says:

    …Meanwhile, back at the set on Monday:

    Johnny: “Hey Angie, how was your weekend?”

    Angie: “Oh, well the inlaws took the kids for ice cream. I took a quick trip over to Somalia, begged for peace, handing out some money. Nothing too exciting.”

    Freaking Hysterical!! Love it!
    Thanks Really!!

  46. sara says:

    The Make It Right Foundation has been a dismal failure and has only built a few dozen houses. In. FIVE. Years. I live near there. MIR is a joke around here.

  47. buenavissta says:

    Anything that gets Somalia back on people’s radar is fine by me. The situation there is overwhelming and tragic. Our family has sponsored refugees and their stories turn my stomach and break my heart. I know awareness doesn’t go very far but it’s a start.

    If you haven’t heard of K’naan, a Somali/Canadian hiphop artist, check out his album Troubadour. Many of his songs give an
    enlightening take on living and escaping from
    there. Plus, he rocks!

  48. Miranda Ann says:

    Sara, how many homes have been built in NOLA by other organizations? The U.S. government? Make it Right is a private charity trying to make things better for the citizens of NOLA. Building a dozen homes is a start, especially in the Lower Ninth Ward. Also, saying that MIR is a “joke” is just plain ridiculous hyperbole. You know as well as I that if MIR was truly a “joke” and a failure for doing nothing, the story would be all over the news and tabloids. It isn’t. There are only positive stories about MIR because the people who matter know the truth. You need to just sit down, girl!!!

  49. MooCow says:

    @Miranda LOL@ trying to help/raise awareness

  50. caring says:

    I wished I cared but honestly I don’t. I’ve traveled to parts of the world that are quite honestly xxit holes many time and they all have the same thing in common. their people have no desire to make tomorrow any better than today for their children. I’ve watched starving people with buckets of seeds then eat the seeds rather than plant them . yes the starving person would die but their children might not. this simple horrific choice differentiates the people of the world. some people will choose to sacrifice up to and including their own life and some won’t for no other reason than so their children can live better than they did.