BANGLADESH / ROHINGYA REFUGEES

90-year-old Gul Zahar has experienced exile three times in her lifetime. Originally from Myanmar, she is a Rohingya Muslim who has lived the realities of repression, fleeing first in 1978, then again in 1991, and once more in August 2017, after her home village was burnt down. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:50
• Production Date: 29 June 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES
• Geographic Subject: BANGLADESH; MYANMAR
• MAMS Id: 2190293
• Parent Id: 2190293
• Alternate Title: unifeed180629f

Description

STORY: BANGLADESH / ROHINGYA REFUGEE
TRT: 02:50
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR
LANGUAGE: ROHINGYA / NATS

DATELINE: 28, 29 APRIL 2018, KUTUPALONG SETTLEMENT, COX’S BAZAAR, BANGLADESH

Shotlist

1. Various shots, Gul listens to the Qur’an on her son’s mobile phone
2. Wide shot, Kutupalong refuee site, Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh
3. SOUNDBITE (Rohingya) Gul Zahar, Rohingya Refugee:
“The Myanmar military tortured us. This is why we came here. We hoped that in Bangladesh, we could find some peace.”
4. Various shots, Gul lies down
5. Wide shot,Gul’s family in the tent
6. Zoom in, Gul seated with her son behind her
7. SOUNDBITE (Rohingya) Oli Ahmad, Gul’s Son:
“I was 18 years old when we escaped to Bangladesh the first time. We lived in the camps for four years. We returned then to Myanmar. Now, 25 years later, we are back again.”
8. Various shots, aerial views of Kutupalong refugee site
9. Various shots, Gul’s family
10. SOUNDBITE (Rohingya) Gul Zahar, Rohingya Refugee:
“I will go back again if there is peace in our country. All my property, my home, is over there. I could die in peace there.”
11. Various shots, Gul walks, rests and then is helped by grandchild to continue walking

Storyline

90-year-old Gul Zahar has experienced exile three times in her lifetime. Originally from Myanmar, she is a Rohingya Muslim who has lived the realities of repression, fleeing first in 1978, then again in 1991, and once more in August 2017, after her home village was burnt down.

SOUNDBITE (Rohingya) Gul Zahar, Rohingya Refugee:
“The Myanmar military tortured us. This is why we came here. We hoped that in Bangladesh, we could find some peace.”

She now lives in the giant Kutupalong refugee site, in Bangladesh, which houses close to 600,000 Rohingya refugees, like her. It is now the largest refugee site in the world.

Although frail and with failing eyesight, Gul keeps active helping with daily chores in her tent, which she shares with nine other family members. Gul still holds onto the hope of going back to her land.

Rohingya Muslims have endured decades of repression in Myanmar. Four generations of Gul’s family now live in exile.

SOUNDBITE (Rohingya) Oli Ahmad, Gul’s Son:
“I was 18 years old when we escaped to Bangladesh the first time. We lived in the camps for four years. We returned then to Myanmar. Now, 25 years later, we are back again.”

Over 900,000 Rohingya have sought refuge in Bangladesh. Kutupalong is now the largest refugee site in the world. Gul and her family yearn to return to their land.

SOUNDBITE (Rohingya) Gul Zahar, Rohingya Refugee:
“I will go back again if there is peace in our country. All my property, my home, is over there. I could die in peace there.”

Despite of her age, Gul walks a few steps every day. She’s determined to feel the earth of her homeland. One more time.