Hollywood and humanitarian stars Angelina Jolie said the flood disaster in Pakistan had to be a “awake call” for the world about climate change, calling for more international assistance after meeting with the victims.
Pakistan has been beaten by heavy rain that has never happened before that flooded one third of the country – an area the size of the British – and killed nearly 1,600 people, according to the latest government numbers.
More than seven million people have been displaced, many live in emergency tents without protection from mosquitoes, and often with a little access to clean drinking water or washing facilities.
“I have never seen something like this,” said Jolie, who previously visited Pakistan to meet with the flooding flood victims and deadly earthquakes, in the recording released on Thursday.
“I am really with you in encouraging the international community to do more … I think this is a real summons to the world about where we are,” he said in a meeting of civilian and military officials in the capital of Islamabad.
“Climate change is not only real and not just comes, it’s very much here.”
Jolie, who represented the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), visited the South Sindh Province, one of the worst affected areas, where he met with displaced flood victims living in the camp.
The United Nations has warned the “second disaster” of diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, cholera and diarrhea, as well as from malnutrition.
“I have talked to people and think that if enough help does not come, they will not be here in the next few weeks, they will not succeed,” Jolie said.
Scientists have connected monsoon rain that broke the record with climate change.