CAMEROON / REFUGEES

Fleeing violence in the Central African Republic, tens of thousands of people have taken refuge in neighbouring Cameroon. Clans from the Mbororo tribe are living in about 70 settlements along the 1200 kilometre border. These nomadic herdsmen have lived in the region for centuries, but now they and their way of life, is under attack. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:04:37
• Production Date: 10 June 2009
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: CAMEROONS UNDER BRITISH ADMINISTRATION; CAMEROONS UNDER FRENCH ADMINISTRATION; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
• MAMS Id: U090610c.rm

Description

STORY: CAMEROON / REFUGEES
TRT: 4.37
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / FULANI / PEUL / NATS

DATELINE: 6- 9 MAY 2009, CAMEROON

Shotlist

6 MAY 2009, Gbabio, Cameroon

1. Various shots, Dairou working on the field
2. SOUNDBITE (Peul) Dairou, Refugee from Central African Republic:
"The bandits came to my village- they killed my brother and they shot me in the back. My neighbor took me to the hospital in Babua. I recovered there and afterwards, I came here."
3. Close up, machete wound on Dairou’s back
4. SOUNDBITE (Peul) Adamou Deli Bouba Mbororo Chief:
If you meet any one coming from this area you will hear about atrocities
5. Med shot, chief Deli Bouba Mbororo’s hand
6. Wide shot, chief Deli Bouba Mbororo setting up a fire
7. SOUNDBITE (Peul) Adamou Deli Bouba Mbororo Chief:
"I think the worst atrocity that I lived through, is when these kidnappers murdered a child in front of the parents and they wouldn’t allow them to bury the child and they let the body rot like an animal."

9 MAY 2009, Gbabio, Cameroon

8. Various shots, refugee settlement
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Daimon Kassaimon UNHCR, Cameroon
"The Mbororo are herdsmen, it's a way of life. Being a herdsman is their way of life. They are distinguished by their dignity; they are very proud people as long as they have their cattle nothing else matters for them."

7 MAY 2009, Garou Balai, Cameroon

9. Various shots, exterior of nutrition centre
10. Various shots, UNHCR staff talking to patients inside the clinic
11. Wide shot, UNHCR staff talking to patients outside the clinic
12. Various shots, children at the health center

6 MAY 2009, Gbabio, Cameroon
15. Wide shot, Dairou working on the field
16. SOUNDBITE (Peul) Dairou, refugee from Cental African Republic:
"At the time I was shot by bandits I was almost all alone because most of the Mbororo had already fled to Cameroon because of the bandits. I had stayed behind with a few cattle."
17. Various shots, settlers in Mbororo working on the field
18. SOUNDBITE (Peul) Adamou Deli Bouba Mbororo Chief:
“I think its very important to go to school, take me for example if I had attended to school I would not be a refugee - things would have been different."
19. Various shots, school rooms and children in makeshift classrooms.

Storyline

This man knows first hand the brutality of the bandits who roam the countryside of the Central African Republic-systematically kidnapping and killing the Mbororo herdsmen and their families.

SOUNDBITE (Peul) Dairou, Refugee from Central African Republic:
"The bandits came to my village- they killed my brother and they shot me in the back. My neighbor took me to the hospital in Babua. I recovered there and afterwards, I came here."

SOUNDBITE (Peul) Adamou Deli Bouba Mbororo Chief:
If you meet any one coming from this area you will hear about atrocities

Chief Adamou Deli Bouba was a rich herdsman with over 500 head of cattle. But when the bandits kidnapped 7 of his brother’s children - he was obliged to sell almost all the livestock to help pay the ransom. A week later they left for Cameroon.

SOUNDBITE (Peul) Adamou Deli Bouba Mbororo Chief:
"I think the worst atrocity that I lived through, is when these kidnappers murdered a child in front of the parents and they wouldn’t allow them to bury the child and they let the body rot like an animal."

More than 60,000 Mbororo have fled to Cameroon. The aid operation is complicated by the fact that the refugees are not in a camp- they are spread out over 50,000 kilometers of territory-often in dense forest. After surviving atrocities, most arrived traumatized and exhausted. But it’s not just the tribe that is under attack, it’s also their way of life.

SOUNDBITE (French) Daimon Kassaimon UNHCR, Cameroon:
"The Mbororo are herdsmen, it's a way of life. Being a herdsman is their way of life. They are distinguished by their dignity; they are very proud people as long as they have their cattle nothing else matters for them."

The refugees have little way to support themselves without their cattle. When the Mbororo started to arrive in 2006, Disease and malnutrition set in and UNHCR and other agencies set up clinics to care for the worst off.

These days the severe malnutrition has abated thanks to creation of accessible water wells, regular food distributions and support to health clinics for both the refugees and locals.

Yet the needs continue since the refugees are still fleeing. But the recent arrivals say few Mbororo are left.

SOUNDBITE (Peul) Dairou, refugee from Cental African Republic:
"At the time I was shot by bandits I was almost all alone because most of the Mbororo had already fled to Cameroon because of the bandits. I had stayed behind with a few cattle."

Without their livestock, the Mbororo have decided to find another way to survive. They are intent on becoming independent again. Most are learning how to farm-something they have never done before. But they also want the next generation to go to school:

SOUNDBITE (Peul) Adamou Deli Bouba Mbororo Chief:
I think its very important to go to school, take me for example if I had attended to school I would not be a refugee - things would have been different."

Because of the large numbers of school aged refugee children - the UN refugee agency stepped in – donating desks and materials to existing schools and is now building several classrooms in the region.

All of this aid makes a difference, however, much more needs to be done. Even mountains of assistance will never bring back the Mbororo’s way of life. Their days as wealthy herdsmen are now just a memory.