IRAQ / SINJAR DISPLACED

The barren structures of an unfinished hi-rise in Dohuk have become a shelter for people who not long ago lived normal lives. There are more than 1.2 million Iraqis displaced because of the fighting in the country, and each family has a harrowing story to tell. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:42
• Production Date: 14 August 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: IRAQ
• MAMS Id: 1189982

Description

STORY: IRAQ / SINJAR DISPLACED
TRT: 2.42
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 13 AUGUST 2014, DOHUK, IRAQ

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, unfinished building structures
2. Tilt up, displaced taking donations up to the building
3. Various shots, IDPs inside the building
4. Wide shot, Hamad walking up the stairs
5. Wide shot, woman and children sitting down
6. Med shot, Hamad wearing headscarf
7. Wide shot, building
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
“My mother was with us, no food, exhaustion, a lot of walking, high steep roads. We come down one hill, up the next. Finally she said to us ‘that’s it I can’t do it’. My two sons tried to carry her but couldn’t. She was mentally still strong, she said to us ‘my sons please go, I am going to die sooner or later, why stay and die with me’. We refused to leave without her, after few hours of thirst, hunger and exhaustion she fell and passed away, may god rest her soul.”
9. Various shots, Hamad talking to family members
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
“We never got to bury her. If we get a chance to go back I will look for her, her body, her bones, anything. A mother is the most precious thing. We were worried that children and other young people with us would die, and we could do nothing but leave her there, who can bear leaving their mother or father like this?”
11. Med shot, refugee woman dressing a baby
12. Close up, refugee woman lying on mattress
13. Med shot, two displaced men sitting down
14. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
“My feeling towards Sinjar? No way, no way can I go back. How can my eyes see Sinjar again when I witnessed hundreds of people die there?”
15. Wide shot, building
16. Close up, young woman sleeping
17. Wide shot, displaced children
18. Wide shot, IDP family
19. Wide shot, building

Storyline

The barren structures of an unfinished hi-rise in Dohuk have become a shelter for people who not long ago lived normal lives. There are more than 1.2 million Iraqis displaced because of the fighting in the country, and each family has a harrowing story to tell.

Over a thousand or more from the Yazidi minority are still trapped on the south side of Sinjar Mountain. Those who managed to escape endured a gruelling and harrowing journey.

For Hamad, home was a farm in Sinjar, where he and his 15 family members lived.

When fighting reached his community, Hamad fled with his family to the mountains.

After seven long days, crossing treacherous, stony terrain and eating a handful of boiled wheat a day, exhaustion caught up with the elderly.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
“My mother was with us, no food, exhaustion, a lot of walking, high steep roads. We come down one hill, up the next. Finally she said to us ‘that’s it I can’t do it’. My two sons tried to carry her but couldn’t. She was mentally still strong, she said to us ‘my sons please go, I am going to die sooner or later, why stay and die with me’. We refused to leave without her, after few hours of thirst, hunger and exhaustion she fell and passed away, may god rest her soul.”

Fearing the rest of the family would face the same fate, Hamad made the hard decision to keep walking.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
“We never got to bury her. If we get a chance to go back I will look for her, her body, her bones, anything. A mother is the most precious thing. We were worried that children and other young people with us would die, and we could do nothing but leave her there, who can bear leaving their mother or father like this?”

Hamad and his family walked for seven hours to reach safety.

Looking back, Hamad finds it hard to contemplate a return to his home, even if it becomes safe to do so.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
“My feeling towards Sinjar? No way, no way can I go back. How can my eyes see Sinjar again when I witnessed hundreds of people die there?”

More than 70 thousand Yazadis have made it to safety.

Hamad’s story is just one of many.