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Tom Hiddleston defends war zone children | Tom Hiddleston defends war zone children |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Actor Tom Hiddleston has called for more support for children caught in conflict zones. | Actor Tom Hiddleston has called for more support for children caught in conflict zones. |
Hiddleston, star of the recent Night Manager TV drama, says "the strongest have to stand up for the weakest". | Hiddleston, star of the recent Night Manager TV drama, says "the strongest have to stand up for the weakest". |
A visit to South Sudan as a Unicef ambassador accidentally brought Mr Hiddleston to the scene of a mass abduction of children. | A visit to South Sudan as a Unicef ambassador accidentally brought Mr Hiddleston to the scene of a mass abduction of children. |
"It felt very bleak, walking into an empty playground, seeing desks upturned. It felt very desolate." | "It felt very bleak, walking into an empty playground, seeing desks upturned. It felt very desolate." |
On a trip last year in support of Unicef's work, Mr Hiddleston had been in a village in the north of South Sudan where 89 children had been seized from a school where they were preparing for an exam. | On a trip last year in support of Unicef's work, Mr Hiddleston had been in a village in the north of South Sudan where 89 children had been seized from a school where they were preparing for an exam. |
It is believed they were forcibly recruited by one of the country's armed groups - and have never been returned. | It is believed they were forcibly recruited by one of the country's armed groups - and have never been returned. |
The actor told the BBC that he found himself "standing in the playground where pupils had been taken away". | |
His trip had also brought him to a "reunification ceremony" where the release of hundreds of former child soldiers had been negotiated allowing them to return to their families. | His trip had also brought him to a "reunification ceremony" where the release of hundreds of former child soldiers had been negotiated allowing them to return to their families. |
He said the visit ended up following in the footsteps of this story of child abductions and political violence. | He said the visit ended up following in the footsteps of this story of child abductions and political violence. |
Mr Hiddleston also travelled to a remote part of the country delivering food and medical supplies to families forced out of the towns by violence. | Mr Hiddleston also travelled to a remote part of the country delivering food and medical supplies to families forced out of the towns by violence. |
"You stand in the landscape and the horizon is so wide - and you see that there is nobody else helping," he said. | |
"It's our responsibility to stand up for those who don't have a voice. | "It's our responsibility to stand up for those who don't have a voice. |
"The world is a much smaller place than it once was, we're all so inter-connected. If there is cynicism, I'd say come and see for yourself if you don't believe me." | "The world is a much smaller place than it once was, we're all so inter-connected. If there is cynicism, I'd say come and see for yourself if you don't believe me." |
He said that the UK government should become a "leader in galvanising the attention of other countries" in the need for humanitarian relief, whether caused by natural disasters or political conflict. | He said that the UK government should become a "leader in galvanising the attention of other countries" in the need for humanitarian relief, whether caused by natural disasters or political conflict. |
"Everything we do as a nation, every single pound, goes towards making these children safer, to increasing their chances of survival and getting a fair start in life," he said of fund-raising efforts for Unicef. | "Everything we do as a nation, every single pound, goes towards making these children safer, to increasing their chances of survival and getting a fair start in life," he said of fund-raising efforts for Unicef. |
Tens of thousands have been killed and about two million people left homeless in the violence in South Sudan. | Tens of thousands have been killed and about two million people left homeless in the violence in South Sudan. |
The world's youngest country has been blighted with conflict since independence in 2011 - with renewed attempts at peace and reconciliation being launched last month. | The world's youngest country has been blighted with conflict since independence in 2011 - with renewed attempts at peace and reconciliation being launched last month. |
Mr Hiddleston's call for more support came as Unicef published an international report warning that 462 million children, a quarter of the world's school-age children, were living in areas affected by a humanitarian crisis. | Mr Hiddleston's call for more support came as Unicef published an international report warning that 462 million children, a quarter of the world's school-age children, were living in areas affected by a humanitarian crisis. |
Among these, 75 million were in danger of missing out on access to education. | Among these, 75 million were in danger of missing out on access to education. |
The millennium development goals had promised that all children would have access to primary education by 2015 - but that deadline passed with tens of millions still out of school. | The millennium development goals had promised that all children would have access to primary education by 2015 - but that deadline passed with tens of millions still out of school. |
There have been new global goals set for education for 2030 - and later this month there will be a World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, which will have education as one of its priorities. | There have been new global goals set for education for 2030 - and later this month there will be a World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, which will have education as one of its priorities. |
There are plans for a $4bn (£2.8bn) emergency fund to support education in crisis, such as ensuring the refugees can have access to schools as well as food and shelter. | There are plans for a $4bn (£2.8bn) emergency fund to support education in crisis, such as ensuring the refugees can have access to schools as well as food and shelter. |
Josephine Bourne, Unicef's global chief of education, said: "Education changes lives in emergencies. | Josephine Bourne, Unicef's global chief of education, said: "Education changes lives in emergencies. |
"Going to school keeps children safe from abuses like trafficking and recruitment into armed groups and is a vital investment in children's futures and in the future of their communities." | "Going to school keeps children safe from abuses like trafficking and recruitment into armed groups and is a vital investment in children's futures and in the future of their communities." |
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