Angelina Jolie criticizes UN failures on Syria crisis
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Actress Angelina Jolie on Friday criticized the UN Security Council's failure to end the war in Syria, as she appealed for urgent help for the growing ranks of Syrian refugees. The Hollywood star spoke at the council in her role as special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which has seen her visit camps hosting victims of the Syrian crisis 11 times. An estimated 3.9 million people have fled the country in four years of civil war. "The purpose of the UN is to prevent and end conflict, to bring countries together, to find diplomatic solutions and to save lives," said Jolie, dressed in a white blazer. "We failed to do this in Syria." She fumed at the stalemate, as ambassadors and ministers gathered for a debate on the humanitarian crisis tearing the country apart. "The crisis is made worse by division and indecision within the international community preventing the Security Council from fulfilling its respon