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LEBANON / SYRIAN REFUGEES USA
STORY: LEBANON / SYRIAN REFUGEES USA
TRT: 02:56
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 08 FEBRUARY 2017, KAHLOUNEYE, LEBANON
08 FEBRUARY 2017, KAHLOUNEYE, LEBANON
1. Various shots, Abdel Moein and family walking outside house
2. Close up, tree
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdel Moein Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
"They told me I was traveling 7 February, so we started prepared ourselves. In terms of employment, I quit my job. We packed our things and I notified the landlord that I was going to move out. I sold most of my household goods and electronics. Then, I was surprised to hear on the 27th or 28th of January that there was a decision made in the United States that they don’t want Syrian refugees and other refugees from other countries.''
4. Various shots, Abdel Moein sitting with his relatives and neighbours
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatima Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“My son Mohamad would sometimes cry and ask me: ‘When are we going to get on the plane?’ My young daughter Shahd would ask too. When she asked I couldn’t even answer her. What was I supposed to tell her? ‘Yes we were travelling and they stopped us?’”
6. Various shots, Shahd packing her school bag
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdel Moein Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“A week after the decision was made, they called me again, on the 5th of February to say that I can now travel.”
8. Various shots, family packing bags in room
9. UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“What is your name?”
10. UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“My name is Mohamad.”
11. UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“What is your name?”
12. UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“My name is Shahd.”
13. UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“How are you?”
14. UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
15. UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“How are you?”
16. UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
17. Various shots, Fatima sitting with her neighbours and relatives
18. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatima Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“Lucky you. You are travelling and going to a new life. Your children will have access to education. Life is different there. We hope to have the chance to be resettled just like you. We hope to follow you one day.’’
19. Med shot, Fatima hugging her neighbour
20. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdel Moein Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
"It is important to me present something positive. I want people to think that this person has something positive to give because he is a Muslim. This will change the perception they have about us.’’
21. Wide shot, neighbour hugging and kissing Fatima and her children outside their house
Abdel Moein and his family were among the hundreds of other Syrian refugees whose lives were on hold after an executive order effectively suspended their entry to the United States. Having waited for years to have a chance to start over, the news was devastating.
The Syrian family was set to be resettled to Florida from Lebanon, but things seemed to take a sharp turn in the wrong direction late January.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdel Moein Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
"They told me I was traveling 7 February, so we started prepared ourselves. In terms of employment, I quit my job. We packed our things and I notified the landlord that I was going to move out. I sold most of my household goods and electronics. Then, I was surprised to hear on the 27th or 28th of January that there was a decision made in the United States that they don’t want Syrian refugees and other refugees from other countries.''
Abdel Moein’s wife Fatima said her children were excited to start their new life and answering their constant questions became hard.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatima Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“My son Mohamad would sometimes cry and ask me: ‘When are we going to get on the plane?’ My young daughter Shahd would ask too. When she asked I couldn’t even answer her. What was I supposed to tell her? ‘Yes we were travelling and they stopped us?’”
But a legal challenge to the US decision reopened the door.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdel Moein Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“A week after the decision was made, they called me again, on the 5th of February to say that I can now travel.”
And so the family is getting ready again. Shahd and Mohamad are practicing their English.
UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“What is your name?”
UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“My name is Mohamad.”
UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“What is your name?”
UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“My name is Shahd.”
UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“How are you?”
UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
UPSOUND (English) Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“How are you?”
UPSOUND (English) Shahd Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
Fatima said her neighbours and family are happy for them and sending them off with good wishes.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatima Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
“Lucky you. You are travelling and going to a new life. Your children will have access to education. Life is different there. We hope to have the chance to be resettled just like you. We hope to follow you one day.’’
Abdel Moein said he just wants to give back to the American community and improve people’s perception of his culture and religion.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdel Moein Mohamad Al Abed, Syrian Refugee:
"It is important to me present something positive. I want people to think that this person has something positive to give because he is a Muslim. This will change the perception they have about us.’’
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