United Nations goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie made her first humanitarian trip to war-torn Afghanistan last week, meeting refugees who had returned to their homeland after fleeing in 2001.

During her two-day humanitarian trip as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency, Angelina Jolie met with refugees who have returned to their native lands only to find incredibly difficult conditions. She also visited projects by Afghan Hands, an organization that helps women and children.

The mother of six told People magazine that “after seeing real suffering, you never complain anymore.” The first thing she did when she returned home was to hug her children.

According to the UN, more than 5 million Afghans have returned home after the downfall of the Taliban regime in 2001, seeking to rebuild their lives. Millions more are still exiled in Iran and Pakistan. Jolie, 33, has called for more international support as winter approaches and the refugees face even more critical needs. Jolie’s trip was announced on the UNHCR’s website.

The Academy Award winning actress, who gave birth to twins a mere three months ago, returned from her emotionally-exhausting excursion to the Middle East only to make a surprise appearance just days later at the Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala, where she presented Clint Eastwood with an award. The Hollywood icon directed Jolie in “Changeling,” a film that has been earning rave reviews and has generated Oscar buzz for both actress and director.

In September, Jolie and Brad Pitt made a $2 million donation through their foundation, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to the Global Health Committee to create a center in Ethiopia for children affected by AIDS and tuberculosis. Their nearly 4-year-old daughter Zahara was born in Ethiopia. Earlier in the summer, the couple donated $1 million to help children affected by the war in Iraq.