Actress and U.N. special envoy Angelina Jolie visited the Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan on Sunday and called on world leaders to find a solution to the Syrian crisis.
Once an empty desert region, Zaatari has transformed into a busy slum city with a population of around 85,000.
Jolie, who works closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, was visiting the camp for the fifth time. She met with refugees, who spoke of the struggles they face in their daily lives, and with camp and U.N. officials, who briefed her on the challenges faced by aid agencies.
According to the agency, this year the UNHCR response to the Syrian crisis is only 7% funded, as opposed to 50% last year.
The actress said the refugees had exhausted their savings and are living in very difficult conditions in the camp.
"Families going without sufficient food, children unable to get medical treatment, young girls vulnerable to early marriage, and many Syrians facing yet another winter without proper shelter," she said.
Jolie also called on the international community to find a viable political solution to the conflict and enable the refugees to finally return to their homes.
Jolie also visited UNHCR's funded "Tiger Girls " program, which aims to empower refugee girls through a range of academic and social skills courses. The program is supported by 11 female coaches who volunteer to teach girls aged 12 to 17 mathematics, Arabic, English and social skills.
Jordan currently hosts over 1.4 million refugees, with most of them living in urban areas and around 100,000 Syrians in camps.
