Angelina Jolie in awe of Syrian refugees who are living in Iraq – ‘Home feels so warm and full of love’

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Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

Written by TVNZ

           United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie, returned to northern Iraq last month to meet with refugees who fled Syrian and are now living in Iraq.She met with Ronia, a Kurdish widow whose children have special medical needs, and is among many mothers struggling to care for the families."If I were living with nothing, just eating bread and onions, but they were not sick, then I would be fine. But this illness has taken a huge toll on us," Ronia explained.Ronia is raising five young girls all on her own. Two of her daughters have thalassaemia, a genetic blood disorder that stunts their growth and can be fatal."My husband suffered from thalassaemia… He died as there was no treatment here," Ronia said.Ronia's family fled Syria nearly six years ago.She takes her two daughters Roshda and Leila to hospital every other week for blood transfusions but says they can't get all of the medical treatment they need in Iraq."I am afraid I will lose them like I lost their dad," Ronia said.Jolie gave the single mother credit."Somehow she's managed to have a home that feels so warm and full of love and her children smiling through all of this. It is such a credit to her," Jolie said.The visit marked Jolie's 61st mission - her fifth visit to Iraq - with the UN Refugee Agency since 2001.

 source : TVNZ