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These kinds of grave statements and warnings are supposed to carry weight and to lead to action. We have rights as a consequence of being human, not because of who we are or where we happen to live. It is shattering to see that so many innocent lives – and principles so many of us stand by and believe in - are being disregarded in this way. This is the continuation of decades of selective defense of human rights - not the sudden loss of a moral center. It is the consequence of treating some lives as important and others as disposable. It is the culmination of the shameless way UN Security Council countries pick and choose which countries to criticise or ignore, and which to help and defend, while the numbers of people forcibly displaced by violence has more than doubled in a decade globally - Sudanese, Syrians, Afghans, Ukrainians and Palestinians among them. None of this is happening by accident. It is intentional. This includes the choice by governments to ignore these warnings, while the death toll rises with every passing day. This reshapes the world. Shocking new precedents are being set that will mean that civilians are even more vulnerable in conflict in the future than they are today. Whether from starvation, or attacks on hospitals or schools. Those who have the power to uphold international humanitarian law, but do nothing, share responsibility.The things we tolerate come to define us.

I have been humbled and honored to work with and for refugees over many years. I have learned so much and deeply value my friendships with those who have been forced to flee war and persecution.While emergency aid remains essential, partnering with refugees whenever possible is also very impactful. Hiring or buying from a refugee not only offers them the respect they deserve, it also allows you to learn from their rich knowledge and remarkable resilience.This World Refugee Day, I want to express my gratitude to the talented refugee chefs from @eatoffbeat at @atelierjolieofficial. For over a year now, they have been sharing food from their homelands with friends and guests, representing countries around the world, including Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, and more. Thank you for allowing me to share this space with you.More than 123 million people are currently displaced. Support for them and for the rule of law has been declining at an alarming rate. Please continue to advocate for emergency aid, support refugee-owned businesses, and show kindness to those who have already endured so much.To learn more about the global state of displacement, visit: https://www.nrc.no/global-figuresPhotos by @feelslikedan #AtelierJolie #WorldRefugeeDay

This morning the UN General Assembly met to discuss the cost of inaction and urgent need to collectively scale up the humanitarian response in Sudan and the region. I recently returned from Chad, where I met Sudanese refugees who have escaped across the border. Due to relentless war and violence, Sudan is currently experiencing the largest displacement crisis in the world, with over 10 million people internally displaced and more than 2 million fleeing to neighbouring countries. The situation is also compounded by mass starvation, as approximately 25.6 million people—over half the population—are facing acute hunger. Despite being one of the poorest countries globally, the people of Chad are sharing their land, food, water, and healthcare with nearly 1.4 million Sudanese refugees. Volunteers in Chad and Sudan have established communal kitchens, collective shelters, makeshift clinics, and women’s cooperatives. They have distributed medication and organized education programs. The efforts of these local grassroots organizations have been nothing short of inspiring —they have achieved so much with so little. But they cannot meet the overwhelming scale of this crisis without proper international support and funding. And above all an immediate end to the fighting, to stop further loss of life, displacement, and suffering. My hope is that today’s meeting will result in decisions, not just conversation. Every hour matters as lives are at stake.

More people have been forced from their homes by conflict and oppression – 114 million – than at any other time on record.Forcibly displaced people themselves are leading the way in advocating for their rights.Stay informed, speak out for displaced people, and share this post.Photos by Getty Images and Refugees International.

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