Jolie and Pitt donate $1 million to Darfur
Angelina has visited the Sudan three times
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Friday, 11, May 2007 08:07
Hollywood's hottest couple, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, have donated $1 million (£505,712) to help Sudanese refugees.
The Tomb Raider star, who set up the Jolie-Pitt foundation with her actor boyfriend last September, is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and has visited the troubled country three times.
"This generous donation comes just months after Angelina Jolie made a personal visit to a refugee camp in Chad and it shows, once again, her and Brad Pitts' commitment to helping refugees and the displaced," said Michel Gabaudan from UNHCR.
"The donation from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation will go to three agencies playing key roles in Darfur and neighbouring Chad: the UN refugee agency; the International Rescue Committee and the international non-governmental organization, SOS Children's Villages."
Aid agencies in the region estimate that around two million people are displaced within the Darfur region as violence between the Janjaweed militia group and the African farmers continues to rage. The Sudanese government has been accused of funding the militiamen to continue the conflict - an allegation the government denies.
Around 240,000 refugees from Darfur are also living in camps in eastern Chad.
"As Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie's continued support of UNHCR and those we seek to help is a powerful force in ensuring they are not forgotten," added Mr Gabaudan.