EGYPT / ASYLUM SEEKER

Of the more than 190,000 asylum seekers and refugees in Egypt, more than one-third is from African countries. As the world concentrates on the huge flow of Syrian refugees, Africans who have had to flee their countries have often been overlooked. Some wait for months and try a far riskier route to a new life. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:39
• Production Date: 20 October 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: ASYLUM SEEKERS
• Geographic Subject: EGYPT
• MAMS Id: 1748386
• Parent Id: 1748386
• Alternate Title: unifeed161020e

Description

STORY: EGYPT / ASYLUM SEEKER
TRT: 1:39
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 19-20 OCTOBER 2016, CAIRO, EGYPT

Shotlist

1. Med shot, Sumaya enters registration centre
2. Pan left, Sumaya sits down at counter
3. Close up, Sumaya's face
4. Med shot, Sumaya talking to UNHCR staff
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sumaya, Sudanese asylum seeker in Egypt:
“There is no money, there is no one, there is no house, no husband, no family, no baby. I cannot wait here.”
6. Med shot, Sumaya sitting on bench inside centre
7. Close up, Sumaya looking at her phone
8. Pan right, Sumaya walks with employee
9. Wide shot, Sumaya walks down stairs
10.Med shot, Sumaya sitting at a desk
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sumaya, Sudanese asylum seeker in Egypt:
“I cannot forget the people dying in front of my eyes. Dying. They tried to catch me, and try to take me and they died. And the body come, I am swimming and the dead body is swimming with me. I cannot forget this all my life.”
12. Wide shot, Sumaya walks towards exit
13. Med shot, Security opening door for her
14. Med shot, Sumaya leaving registration centre

Storyline

Of the more than 190,000 asylum seekers and refugees in Egypt, more than one-third is from African countries.

As the world concentrates on the huge flow of Syrian refugees, Africans who have had to flee their countries have often been overlooked. Some wait for months and try a far riskier route to a new life.

Sumaya needs new papers as an asylum seeker from Sudan in Egypt. She lost hers trying to cross the Mediterranean.

Her husband, who fled before her, is in Europe. She’s been in Cairo for two years and is desperate to join him.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sumaya, Sudanese asylum seeker in Egypt:
“There is no money, there is no one, there is no house, no husband, no family, no baby. I cannot wait here.”

She tried the dangerous smuggler’s route across the sea three times. Each time she was detained by the authorities.

Still, she made a fourth try. Only on arrival in Italy would she and others have to pay. She didn’t arrive. Her boat, the Rosetta, with 500 refugees sank. Almost 300 died.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sumaya, Sudanese asylum seeker in Egypt:
“I cannot forget the people dying in front of my eyes. Dying. They tried to catch me, and try to take me and they died. And the body come, I am swimming and the dead body is swimming with me. I cannot forget this all my life.”

Sumaya’s UNHCR refugee application will take months.Her husband pleads with her to wait. But the dangerous sea still beckons. She says she may try again.