GENEVA / MOZAMBICAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said it has begun a major operation to relocate nearly ten thousand Mozambican asylum seekers in Malawi in an effort to improve their living conditions. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:26
• Production Date: 15 April 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: WILLIAM SPINDLER
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES
• Geographic Subject: MALAWI; MOZAMBIQUE
• MAMS Id: 1603363
• Parent Id: 1603363
• Alternate Title: unifeed160415a

Description

STORY: GENEVA / MOZAMBICAN ASYLUM SEEKERS
TRT: 01:26
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 15 APRIL 2016, GEVENA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

15 APRIL 2016, GEVENA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) William Spindler, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commission for Refugee:
“A first group of 81 asylum seekers left Nsanje district on two buses to make the 320 km journey to Luwani in the country’s southeast. On arrival, they will stay at a transit centre for up to two days until they are provided with a plot of land, food, shelter materials and household items”.
4. Wide shot, panel at the press conference
5. SOUNDBITE (English) William Spindler, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commission for Refugee:
“The majority of the Mozambican asylum seekers, nearly ten thousand, have until now been living in overcrowded conditions in an area about 100 kilometres south of the capital, Lilongwe. Most are in the village of Kapise, close to the border with Mozambique, where heavy rains are at present making roads impassable. For this reason, UNHCR and the Government of Malawi agreed that the transfer to Luwani would begin first with families located in the district of Nsanje”.
6. Wide shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) William Spindler, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commission for Refugee:
“Last week, UNHCR conducted a rapid assessment in Ntcheu, Dedza and Nsanje districts to determine the situation of new Mozambican arrivals. In Nsanje, we have registered asylum-seekers and provided them with food and other aid”.
8. Various shots, press briefing room

Storyline

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said it has begun a major operation to relocate nearly ten thousand Mozambican asylum seekers in Malawi in an effort to improve their living conditions.

Recent clashes in Mozambique between government forces and the RENAMO (Mozambican National Resistance) opposition group have caused more than six thousand to flee to safety in neighbouring Malawi.

UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler said “the majority of the Mozambican asylum seekers, nearly ten thousand, have until now been living in overcrowded conditions in an area about 100 kilometres south of the capital, Lilongwe.” He said, “Most are in the village of Kapise, close to the border with Mozambique, where heavy rains are at present making roads impassable.”

UNHCR and the Government of Malawi agreed that the transfer the asylum seekers to a camp in Luwani, which hosted Mozambican refugees during the 1977-1992 civil war.

Spindler said “a first group of 81 asylum seekers left Nsanje district on two buses to make the 320 kilometres journey to Luwani in the country’s southeast. On arrival, they will stay at a transit centre for up to two days until they are provided with a plot of land, food, shelter materials and household items”.

UNHCR conducted a rapid assessment last week in the Ntcheu, Dedza and Nsanje districts to determine the situation of new Mozambican arrivals. The agency has registered asylum seekers in Nsanje and provided them with food and other aid.

The Luwani camp which is known for having hosted Mozambican refugees during the 1977-1992 civil war was closed in 2007. UNHCR said asylum seekers will have better facilities and services at the camp, including health, education, water, protection and will be involved in self-reliance activities such as agriculture.