ANGELINA OFFERS SHIRT FOR EBAY AUCTION
Copyright 2002 www.reuters.com

[ June 11th 2002 ]

T-shirts signed by actress Angelina Jolie and supermodel Naomi Campbell are among the celebrity items being auctioned on eBay.com to mark World Refugee Day, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday.

A model car signed by Formula One racer Michael Schumacher, a tennis racket owned by Martina Hingis and a silk Ungaro blouse and scarf worn by the late actress Melina Mercouri are also on the block to benefit UNHCR programs for women around the world, the agency said. It hopes to raise $250,000 through the auction, which began Monday night on eBay.com's main web site as well as its various national sites.

Women make up 50 percent of refugees helped by UNHCR world-wide, spokesman Kris Janowski said. "In addition to carrying out their daily duties, they play an active role in camp life, education and distribution of aid. At the same time, they are the most exposed to violence and abuse," he said.