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EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS - Angelina Jolie Cuts Short Trip To North Africa Amid Security Concerns
Posted on Tue Apr 5, 2011 12:08 PM PDT
Angelina Jolie's visit to a Libyan refugee camp in Tunisia today caused a near riot as many of the almost 15,000 refugees there swarmed the actress.
Jolie was scheduled to visit a Red Cross camp during her visit to the region but when it was decided her security detail was not sufficient to protect her from the crowds at the Shusha camp today, further travel was canceled.
Our X17 photographer on the ground in Tunisia tells us: "The situation got a little scary. Angelina is the consummate professional and a true humanitarian and she wants to really get in touch with the people -- with the refugees. But when there are thousands of people swarming around, she has to realize it's not a safe situation. Her security detail had to get her out of there before the crowd got out of control. It's not that anyone would try to hurt her, it's just a matter of keeping under control so many people in such close quarters."
Angelina is now back in the capital, Tunis, preparing to board a flight back to Paris.
Almost 440,000 people have been displaced since mid-February after fleeing violence in Libya, finding shelter in neighboring countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Algeria, Chad and Sudan. The Shusha camp houses some 15,000 refugees and Tunisia as a whole has received more than 200,000 Libyans.
"The outpouring of generosity from the Tunisian people says so much for the future of this country," said Jolie. "It is a sign of the openness sweeping across the region."
She also told reporters: "The international community has done well to reinforce Tunisia's remarkable relief effort. But with 2,000 people still crossing each day, we cannot let the funding dry up and need to sustain the momentum."
And Angelina's putting her money where her mouth is -- the Jolie-Pitt Foundation covered the costs for the flights of 177 people to return to their countries of origin and purchased an ambulance to help support Tunisian efforts on the border, to assist the injured arriving from Libya.
The UNCHR's own report told of the risk Jolie was taking to visit the region, reporting that the actress was told of heavy fighting inside Tunisia just before her trip. She listened to stories of checkpoints, harassment and assaults, which led her to appeal to the international community for urgent assistance including food and medical supplies.
"We would encourage others, individuals and governments, to continue to support and assist with the needs on the ground," said Jolie.
Do what YOU can to support this aid effort by donating to the UNHCR by clicking HERE.
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SEE THE GALLERY 
Angelina Jolie Overwhelmed At Refugee Camp
Comments
So, you are saying that the impoverished Libyan re
refugees recognize Angelina Jolie from what...seeing
her films at the local movie theater or from reading PEOPLE magazine...or maybe from checking out X17
on their laptops?
She's an angel. Don't hurt our angel.
I always worry about her going to places like this. There are some mean people over there.
Well when your with child ( number 7 )you need to be safe ROFLMAO go home
i dont see any other celebrity going and doing what she does and putting the amount of money which her and brad do, Angelina does an amazing job :)
oh she's such a fucking saint, isn't she? she probably got off on all the chaos
when is she gonna dump brad? that's the new I'm waiting for. I can't wait for the brad vs Angie fan fights, and the omg who is she dating fights online
TAT ON HER ARM
N3510'40""IS LAND IN AFRICA (NEW BERN)
N35 10 06 IS FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
TATT IS HOUSE NEAR FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
What an idiot. Imagine what could have happened to her dressed like that. She has no clue.
The UN making a mess once again.
defjamsussane , uggh please! There are plenty of charitable "celebrities" out there they just don't make spectacles of themselves while doing so like this chick does. And would you believe there are people in this world who devote their life to charity? People who go over seas and help out months at a time, making no profit. Most of whom are middle class citizens like our selves and don't have a 50 million dollar mansion to come home to. The people who give and don't expect anything in return, not even a pat on the back, just the satisfaction of knowing they helped someone in need is enough. Those are the people to admire not this broad! OK. Rant over.
04.48 yOU ARE JEALOUS BITTER BITCH. MOVE ON