Hollywood actor and humanitarian Angelina Jolie has marked the first anniversary of the Cambodia border conflict, expressing that the country — where her son Maddox was born — remains deeply close to her heart. In a heartfelt note shared on Instagram, Jolie drew attention to the nearly 30,000 people who remain internally displaced and unable to return home.

What Jolie Said

In her own words, Jolie wrote: 'One year ago, conflict broke out along Cambodia's border, upending the safety and stability of so many. Now, nearly 30,000 people remain internally displaced and unable to return home.'

She went on to describe Cambodia's personal significance to her family: 'Cambodia has always been a special country for me and my family. This is my son's country of birth, our home is here, and for over 20 years, we've worked with a fully locally-led team on conservation and community development. The Maddox Foundation is headquartered on the same border where the recent conflict took place.'

Personal Ties and the Maddox Foundation

Jolie revealed the human cost of the conflict on her own team, writing: 'I have had the honor of becoming close friends with my neighbors and the Foundation team as we demined and developed the area together. When the fighting broke out last year, we had to evacuate our staff and their families — a painful reminder of just how quickly conflict can return.'

The Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which has operated in Cambodia for over two decades, focuses on conservation, community health, and local livelihoods. Its headquarters sits on the very border region where fighting erupted a year ago, making the conflict acutely personal for Jolie and her extended team.

A Message of Solidarity

Closing her note on a note of resilience, Jolie wrote: 'I love this country and its resilient, warm people. While we're grateful to have resumed our work protecting the land and supporting the community's health and livelihoods, my heart is with everyone still waiting to come home.'

This comes amid ongoing international attention to displacement crises across Southeast Asia. Notably, Jolie's public statement is one of the more prominent celebrity-humanitarian voices to specifically address the Cambodia border conflict's one-year mark.

Jolie's Humanitarian Record

An Academy Award, Tony Award, and three Golden Globe Awards recipient, Jolie has long channelled her public profile into advocacy. She served as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), undertaking field missions to refugee camps and conflict zones across the globe. Her causes span conservation, education, and women's rights — all of which intersect with her long-term work in Cambodia.

With work at the Maddox Foundation now resumed, Jolie's focus remains on the communities still waiting to rebuild — and on keeping the world's attention on a displacement crisis that risks fading from headlines.