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GENEVA / RWANDA REFUGEE DEATHS
STORY: GENEVA / RWANDA REFUGEE DEATHS
TRT: 01:12
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 FEBRUARY 2018 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1.Exterior Shot, Palais des Nations, UN Geneva
2.Wide shot, briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Cécile Pouilly, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
“UNHCR is urging authorities in Rwanda to ensure safety and protection for refugees after protests led to tragic deaths of at least five refugees and the injury of many others – including the members of the police force – on Thursday. We are shocked and disturbed at the loss of refugee lives.”
4. Wide shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cécile Pouilly, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
“Police were reported to have used teargas to disperse the protestors, after attempts to resolve the situation had failed. Clashes were reported before the police fired the shots at angry protesters.”
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Cécile Pouilly, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
“This tragedy should have been avoided and disproportionate use of force against desperate refugees is not acceptable. UNHCR calls on authorities to refrain from further use of force and investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident.”
8. Wide shot, journalists
9. Close up, journalist
10. Close up, journalist
Five persons died Thursday and many more were injured in clashes between Rwandan police and Congolese refugees who were demonstrating their “sense of despair” after their food rations were cut recently.
UNHCR spokesperson Cécile Pouilly told reporters in Geneva today (23 Feb) “UNHCR is urging authorities in Rwanda to ensure safety and protection for refugees after protests led to the tragic deaths of at least five refugees and the injury of many others – including the members of the police force – on Thursday. We are shocked and disturbed at loss of refugee lives.”
According to UNHCR, around 700 Congolese refugees from Kiziba refugee camp were demonstrating outside the UNHCR field office in Karongi, in western Rwanda. The protests, ongoing since February 20, were related to food ration cuts that have added to the refugees' sense of despair and lack of long-term prospects.
Pouilly said “police were reported to have used teargas to disperse the protestors, after attempts to resolve the situation had failed. Clashes were reported before the police fired shots at angry protestors.”
UNHCR has appealed for maintaining calm and restraint, and today expressed its regret that these appeals went unheeded.
The spokesperson added “this tragedy should have been avoided and disproportionate use of force against desperate refugees is not acceptable.”
She said “UNHCR calls on authorities to refrain from further use of force and to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident.”
In the statement, UNHCR also appealed to refugee leaders to show a sense of responsibility to avoid further confrontation, and urging them to respect laws and seek solutions to all their grievances through peaceful negotiations.
According to UNHCR, underfunding has severely affected humanitarian operations in Rwanda, now with deadly consequences. UNHCR’s 2018 appeal for US$98.8 million to support refugees in Rwanda is currently only is 2 per cent funded.
Kiziba refugee camp hosts over 17,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). More than 173,000 refugees from the DRC and Burundi live in six camps in Rwanda.
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