Angelina Jolie Visits Syrian Refugees, Calls War ‘Worst Humanitarian Crisis Of The 21st Century’

Angelina Jolie dives back into her humanitarian work just two months after completing operations for her double mastectomy. UNHCR Special Envoy Jolie visited Syrian refugees at the Jordan border on Tuesday, ahead of the World Refugee Day on June 20.

According to a UNHCR press release, the war in Syria forced about half a million people to flee last year. In the last six months, the number has more than doubled to 1.6 million. Syrians have sought refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.

"The worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century is unfolding in the Middle East today," Jolie said. "The international response to this crisis falls short of the vast scale of this human tragedy. Much more humanitarian aid is needed, and above all, a political settlement to this conflict must be found."

Jolie said the purpose of her visit in the Middle East is "to show support for Syria's refugees, to call on the world to address their plight, and to better understand needs in Jordan and other countries in the region most directly affected by this devastating conflict."

The 38-year-old was pictured dressed in all black, listening to Syrian refugees in a Jordanian military camp based on the Jordan-Syria border, The Daily Mail reports. Jolie was crouched, talking to a mother, several children, and some young boys as she recorded the stories of refugees who had escaped Syria by crossing the Jaber border in Jordan.

According to The Herald Sun, Jordan says it has 540,000 Syrian refugees, 150,000 of whom are in the Zaatari camp in the north, near the border with Syria.

The United Nations says more than 93,000 have been killed in the war in Syria.

Jolie made the trip to the border without her fiancé, Brad Pitt. Pitt is in New York City for the premiere of his film "World War Z," Us Weekly reports.

At the June 17 premiere, he explained to reporters of Jolie's absence, "She has to go across the world for Refugee Day."

However, Jolie wasn't alone. She is being accompanied by head of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.