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UNHCR Generates Flood of Donations after TV Interview
Actress Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raiders, Gone in 60 Seconds) became the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in August of 2001, upon returning from a trip to Pakistan to learn first-hand the plight of Afghan refugees who were fleeing the oppression in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, even before September 11. In October, she appeared on Larry King Live for a half-hour interview on the subject of the refugee crisis in Pakistan. The web site of the United States Association for UNHCR (www.unrefugees.org) was featured prominently several times during the interview. Jeffrey Meer, the Executive Director of US-UNHCR, and John Fredricksson, UNHCR's Coordinator for External Affairs, told NPAdvisors that the website collected $50,000 in donations during the 48-hour period after the interview aired. This was 20% of the $250,000 collected online since the US-UNHCR fund drive for this crisis began last year. (Fredriksson noted that 2002 may see the single greatest refugee resettlement effort ever, with so many Afghans returning after the fighting, so its website needs even more donations to help.) By comparison, the website produced only $15,000 in donations in 1999 for the Kosovo Refugee Crisis. Both Meer and Fredriksson credit the recognition of Angelina Jolie and the interview with a good portion of the results. The conversation with Meer and Fredriksson took place at the press conference announcing the launch of ReliefInteractive.org (REACT), the web service that links online news services with international aid organizations, to help the public quickly find agencies that are providing relief to breaking disasters around the world. (Coverage of the REACT launch) About USA-UNHCR: Established by concerned American citizens, USA for UNHCR builds support in the United States for the humanitarian work of UNHCR and its partners. Our mission is to raise the consciousness of Americans about the work and accomplishments of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) through education and advocacy. We want to give individual Americans, frustrated by the growing refugee crisis and their own inability to do something to help, a way to put action behind their words. April 2002 | ||
