Angelina Jolie visits Ecuador in her first trip as special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

GlobalPost

Actress Angelina Jolie visited Ecuador over the weekend in her first trip as special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the agency told the Associated Press.

"I really encourage the government to continue their tradition of assistance to vulnerable families in need," Jolie said, according to the UN agency's statement.

During a two-day visit, Jolie met with Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, as well as, Colombian refugees living in northern Sucumbios province.

USA Today reported on Sunday she met with a 71-year-old refugee in Barrancabermeja, a border village to which many refugee families escape.

The UN said Monday that it was her first trip as special envoy since her appointment earlier this month. She was previously a goodwill ambassador.

Jolie's third trip to Ecuador was to investigate the thousands of refugees fleeing from violence in nearby Colombia.

There are currently about 56,000 Colombian refugees living in Ecuador, plus thousands seeking asylum.

Jolie and partner Brad Pitt recently made news when they announced they were finally engaged after seven years.

Britain's Daily Mail wrote the couple flew to the Galápagos Islands, which is some 300 miles from Ecuador, with their family last week.

More from GlobalPost: Angelina Jolie promoted to UNHCR special envoy


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