GENEVA / MEDITERRANEAN REFUGEE DEATHS

Twelve bodies were recovered from a boat accident off the coast of Libya on Sunday, bringing the death toll of people crossing the Mediterranean by boat this year to 500. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:05
• Production Date: 8 July 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: MEDITERRANEAN REGION; MEDITERRANEAN SEA
• MAMS Id: 1131721

Description

STORY: GENEVA / MEDITERRANEAN REFUGEE DEATHS
TRT: 2.05
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 8 JULY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, journalists
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, spokesperson UN Refugee Agency:
"A Syrian mother and her two children are among the latest people to have perished while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Libya. The Libyan coast guard informed us on Monday, that it had recovered 12 bodies from a boat accident believed to have occurred on Sunday, including three Syrians, three Eritrean nationals and six others, whose nationalities haven't been determined. The boat, which had a capacity of about 200 passengers and may have been carrying many more people, is reported to have capsized off the Tripoli coast. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. The fate of others who may have been aboard the vessel is unknown."
4. Med shot, presser
5 SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, spokesperson UN Refugee Agency:
"With this latest tragedy, some 217 people are believed to have drowned off the Libyan coast so far in 2014 while trying to cross the Mediterranean. This in addition to at least another 290 people confirmed dead or missing from boat accidents in the waters off Italy, Turkey and Greece, bringing the death toll in the Mediterranean so far this year to around 500 people."
6. Wide shot, presser
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, spokesperson UN Refugee Agency:
"We are urging States worldwide to look at providing legal alternatives to dangerous sea journeys – such as increased family reunification, speedy resettlement and humanitarian admissions. Governments are additionally being encouraged to resist punitive or deterrent measures including detention for people seeking safety."
8. Wide shot, presser

Storyline

Twelve bodies were recovered from a boat accident off the coast of Libya on Sunday, bringing the death toll of people crossing the Mediterranean by boat this year to 500.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, says a Syrian mother and her two children are among the latest believed to have perished while attempting make the crossing.

The Libyan coast guard said the boat with a capacity of about 200 capsized off the coast of Tripoli. The fate of the other passengers is unknown.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday (8 July), UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards said some 217 people are believed to have drowned of the Libyan coast so far this year, while trying to cross the Mediterranean, with another 290 confirmed dead or missing from boat accidents in the waters off Italy, Turkey and Greece.

The UN Refugee Agency is urging states throughout the world to look at providing legal alternatives to dangerous sea journeys.

Edwards said these might include increased family reunification, speedy resettlement and humanitarian admissions.

UNHCR is also urging governments not to impose punitive or deterrent measures, including detention for people seeking safety.