IRAQ / SHARYIA DISPLACED CHILDREN

The ongoing fighting in Iraq has pushed the number of displaced in Iraqi Northern Region of Kurdistan to over 600 thousand. Some 24 thousand of them live in a village called Sharyia on the outskirts of Dohuk. Families are dispersed between schools, unfinished buildings and local’s homes who kindly host and look after them. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:51
• Production Date: 18 August 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR; WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: IRAQ
• MAMS Id: 1148592

Description

STORY: IRAQ / SHARYIA DISPLACED CHILDREN
TRT: 2.51
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: KURDISH / NATS

DATELINE: 16 AUGUST 2014, SHARYIA, NORTHERN IRAQ

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, food distribution
2. Close up, food
3. Close up, food server
4. Various shots, food distribution
5. Various shots, children walking carrying food
6. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Faleh, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“We escaped from the land of my grandfather. It was a nice place in the village. We now have to be homeless here and we left our homes behind. We had no problems before, our house was very nice, we never wished to come here.”
7. Close up, child carrying food
8. Wide shot, children carrying food
9. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Zidan, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“We left everything behind and went to the mountain. We left our house. We found some trees to lie under. We had no clothes to wear. We had nothing. We had nothing until we reached here. On the way I saw many people who fell to the ground because they were thirsty. Some begged us for some water to drink but we had nothing.”
10. Pan right, family sitting down eating
11. Close up, rice
12. Close up, boy eating rice
13. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Randa, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“Dilnaz, Silivan, Avin, Amina, Mayran, Silivan.”
14. Wide shot, family eating
15. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Randa, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“We used to study and they would let us play with the ball everyday. Sometimes they make us study and we can’t play.”
16. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Zidan, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“Zidan, Displaced 12 year old (Kurdish): “We had to leave all my uncles behind when we escaped. We left our house, our grandparents. We left everything.”
17. Wide shot, children fighting for last rice grains in bowl
18. Close up, child picking up rice grains off the carpet

Storyline

The ongoing fighting in Iraq has pushed the number of displaced in Iraqi Northern Region of Kurdistan to over 600 thousand. Some 24 thousand of them live in a village called Sharyia on the outskirts of Dohuk. Families are dispersed between schools, unfinished buildings and local’s homes who kindly host and look after them.

In one corner of the town queues form every day awaiting lunch distribution by WFP and the Barzani Foundation. Children, women and adults queue for rice and soup.

This kitchen feeds thousands daily, many of them children.

For many this is their only meal today.

Faleh, Zidan, Randa and Dilnaz have just collected food for 4 displaced families.

Faleh and Zidan are cousins and best friends.

Food was not an issue back home in Sinjar. But since fleeing two weeks ago their lives have changed drastically.

SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Faleh, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“We escaped from the land of my grandfather. It was a nice place in the village. We now have to be homeless here and we left our homes behind. We had no problems before, our house was very nice, we never wished to come here.”

Faleh, his sister and two cousins walk more than a kilometre to get food for their families back at the shelter.

The daily journey is long, but few things compare to surviving the harsh conditions on top of Sinjar Mountain.

SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Zidan, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“We left everything behind and went to the mountain. We left our house. We found some trees to lie under. We had no clothes to wear. We had nothing. We had nothing until we reached here. On the way I saw many people who fell to the ground because they were thirsty. Some begged us for some water to drink but we had nothing.”

Food is served only for the young. Adults eat as little as one meal a day to save more for the children.

Faleh has nightmares that his home is blown up and many people die. His 8-year old sister, Randa misses her friends the most. She recites their names.

SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Randa, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“Randa is at second grade. The school and playground is what she remembers.”

SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Randa, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“We used to study and they would let us play with the ball every day. Sometimes they make us study and we can’t play.”

SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Zidan, Displaced Iraqi Child:
“Zidan, Displaced 12 year old (Kurdish): “We had to leave all my uncles behind when we escaped. We left our house, our grandparents. We left everything.”

These children feel responsible for their families, they must help protect and fend for them.

They have grown all too soon and face tough uncertain times ahead.