Bayan dawowarta gida, Jolie ta tuntubi Babban Kwamishinan 'Yan Gudun Hijira na Majalisar Dinkin Duniya (UNHCR) don samun bayanai game da wuraren rikice-rikice na kasa da kasa. Don ƙarin koyo game da yanayin da ke cikin waɗannan yankuna, ta fara ziyartar sansanonin' yan gudun hijira a duniya. A watan Fabrairun 2001, ta tafi ziyarar farko ta filin, aikin kwanaki 18 zuwa Saliyo da Tanzaniya; daga baya ta bayyana mamakin abin da ta gani. A cikin watanni masu zuwa, Jolie ta koma Kambodiya na makonni biyu kuma ta sadu da 'yan gudun hijirar Afghanistan a Pakistan, inda ta ba da gudummawar dala miliyan 1 don amsa kiran gaggawa na kasa da kasa na UNHCR, kyauta mafi girma da UNHCR ta taɓa karɓa daga wani mutum mai zaman kansa.
ziyartar sansanin 'yan gudun hijira