Actress Angelina Jolie on Tuesday decried the “unimaginable” suffering she has seen during a visit to Yemen and urged donors to dig into their pockets and help the war-ravaged nation at this month's pledging meet.
Jolie, the star and director of numerous films, sounded the alarm about impoverished conditions in Yemen after meeting displaced Yemenis in the south and the rebel-held north of the country.
“The level of human suffering here is unimaginable,” said Jolie, celebrity envoy for the UN refugee agency since 2011.
“For every day that Yemen’s brutal conflict continues, more and more innocent lives are lost, and more people will continue to suffer.”
The actress met families displaced by fighting living in flimsy shelters in southern Yemen's Lahj governorate.
One mother told the actress how she struggles to feed her children and enrol them in school.
In the north, the actress heard similarly tragic stories of death, displacement and suffering amid fighting between rebels, pro-government and foreign coalition forces.
Jolie noted how headlines are dominated by “suffering and horror” but that this can mask “displays of compassion and international solidarity” that she witnessed during her three-day visit, which began on Sunday.
“I hope this compassion and solidarity will be extended to the people of Yemen, who urgently need a swift and peaceful resolution to this conflict,” she said.
Her visit came in the run-up to the annual pledging meeting for Yemen on March 16.
UN aid chiefs worry that donor fatigue will affect the event, as governments shift spending to Ukraine, Afghanistan and other global hotspots.
She said aid appeals were “underfunded globally” and urged donors to give generously, a statement from UNHCR said.
“We urgently need to find solutions that enable conflicts to be addressed and displaced people to be able to return home in dignity and safety,” she said.
Yemen has been mired in chaos since Iran-backed Houthi rebels ousted the internationally recognised government from the capital Sanaa in early 2015, saying they were fighting corruption.
A Saudi Arabia-led military coalition intervened the following year to restore the ousted government.
The war has claimed more than 370,000 lives, directly and indirectly, the UN says, and has caused widespread suffering, with four fifths of Yemen’s 30 million people needing aid.
Angelina Jolie's style evolution in pictures
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Angelina Jolie, in a velvet cape, attends the Cable Ace Awards at the Wiltern Theatre in California, Los Angeles, on November 15, 1997. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a leather jacket, attends the premiere of 'Gia' in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 1998. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Randolph Duke, and James Haven attend the 56th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on January 23, 1999. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a strapless LBD, attends the National Board of Review Awards in New York, US, on February 8, 1999. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a white coat and matching trousers, attends the premiere of 'The Bone Collector' in Los Angeles, California, on February 11, 1999. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a black dress with chiffon overlay, arrives at the 6th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 12, 2000 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Marc Bouwer, and James Haven attend the 72nd annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on March 26, 2000. Getty Images -
Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie, in leather trousers and a grey tee, attend the premiere of 'Gone in 60 Seconds' on June 5, 2000 in Westwood, California. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Versace, arrives at the 58th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California, on January 21, 2001. Getty Images -
Benicio Del Toro and Angelina Jolie, in Dolce & Gabbana, at the 73rd annual Academy Awards on March 25, 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a pared-back suit, attends the premiere of 'Tomb Raider' on July 3, 2001 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Colette Dinnigan, arrives for the 49th Orange British Academy Film Awards at the Odeon Leicester Square on February 23, 2003 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a black halterneck, attends the premiere of 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life' at the Empire Cinema Leicester Square on August 19, 2003 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a seafoam halterneck dress, attends the premiere of 'Beyond Borders' on October 15, 2003 at Capitol cinema in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in an open-necked shirt and suit, attends the premiere of 'Shrek 2' at Le Palais de Festival on May 15, 2004 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in jeans and a gold beaded capelet, attends the premiere of 'Shark Tale' during the 61st Venice Film Festival on September 10, 2004 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a tailored coat and knee-high boots, arrives at the premiere of 'Alexander' at the Odeon Leicester Square on January 5, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in a white belted coat, arrives at the after-party for 'Alexander' on January 6, 2005 in Dublin, Ireland. Getty Images -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Pierre Balmain, attend the premiere for 'A Mighty Heart' at the Palais des Festivals during the 60th International Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2007 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Emanuel Ungaro, attends the premiere for 'Ocean's 13' at the Palais des Festivals during the 60th International Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2007 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Versace, and Brad Pitt attend 'The Assassination of Jesse James' premiere during the 64th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2007 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Max Azria, and Brad Pitt attend the 'Kung Fu Panda' premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 15, 2008 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Reem Acra, arrive for the 'Changeling' premiere during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2008 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Akris, arrive for the premiere of 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' at the Sony Center CineStar on January 19, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Armani Prive, and Brad Pitt arrives for the Orange British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House on February 8, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, attend the 'Inglourious Basterds' premiere during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2009 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Versace, attends the 'Salt' premiere at Tokyo International Forum on July 27, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Amanda Wakeley, attends the premiere of 'Salt' at the Empire Leicester Square on August 16, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, attends 'The Tourist' premiere at Palacio de los Deportes on December 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, arrives for the 68th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, on January 16, 2011. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, and Brad Pitt attend 'The Tree of Life' premiere during the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2011 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Versace, attend the 'Moneyball' Premiere at Tokyo International Forum on November 9, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, arrives for the 69th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 2012. EPA -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Jenny Packham, attend the 'In the Land of Blood and Honey' premiere during the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival on February 11, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, attends the Cinema for Peace Gala at the Konzerthaus Am Gendarmenmarkt during the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, attends 'In the Land of Blood And Honey' premiere on February 16, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, arrive for the 84th annual Academy Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Centre in Hollywood, California, on February 26, 2012. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Saint Laurent, attends the premiere of 'World War Z' at The Empire Cinema on June 2, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, and Brad Pitt attend the 'World War Z' premiere at Sony Centre on June 4, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Saint Laurent, and Brad Pitt attend the EE British Academy Film Awards at The Royal Opera House in London, England, on February 16, 2014. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Elie Saab, and Brad Pitt arrive for the 86th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 2, 2014. EPA -
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, in Versace, attend an exhibition in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital at Kensington Palace on May 8, 2014 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Gucci, arrives at the premiere of 'Unbroken' at the State Theatre on November 17, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, Ralph & Russo, attends the premiere of 'Unbroken' at Odeon Leicester Square on November 25, 2014 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, arrives for the 20th annual Critics' Choice Awards in Hollywood, California, on January 15, 2015. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Versace, arrives for the premiere of 'By The Sea' at the TCL Theatre in Hollywood, California, on November 5, 2015. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Saint Laurent, arrives for the 'Kung Fu Panda 3' premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on January 16, 2016. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, arrives for a screening of 'First They Killed My Father' during the 42nd annual Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on September 11, 2017. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, and Loung Ung arrive for the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 7, 2018. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, arrives for the 23rd annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, on January 11, 2018. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, attends the EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall on February 18, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, attends the premiere of 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 30, 2019. EPA -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, attends the premiere of 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' on October 3, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Versace, attends the premiere of 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' at Auditorium della Conciliazione on October 7, 2019 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Angelina Jolie, in Ralph & Russo, attends the premiere of 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' at Odeon Waterloo on October 9, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
