TUNISIA / UNHCR CAMP

As tens of thousands of people continue to flee unrest in Libya to neighbouring Tunisia, UNHCR is establishing transit camps for those with nowhere to go. By the end of the week, UNHCR tents should house up to 24,000 people-some from as far away as Vietnam and Bangladesh. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:31
• Production Date: 2 March 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: LIBYA; TUNISIA
• MAMS Id: U110302d

Description

STORY: TUNISIA / UNHCR CAMP
SOURCE: UNHCR
TRT: 2:31
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ FRENCH/ NATS

DATELINE: 2 MARCH 2011, CHOUCHA RAS DJIR, TUNISIA-LIBYA BORDER

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, bulldozer clearing land for camp
2. Various shots, UNHCR camp
3. Wide shot, men carrying mattress
4. Various shots, crowds walking in the camp
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Hovig Etyemezian, Protection Officer, United Nations Refugee Agency:
“The crisis is growing. On a daily basis we have more people coming in. We need more ships and airplanes coming in to evacuate the nationals here. The Egyptians, Bangladeshis, Vietnamese. People need to leave at a faster rate otherwise this crisis is going to go worse.”
6. Various shots, people scrambling to get on buses
7. Various shots, buses leaving
8. Various shots, people waiting
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Abdou Karim, Mali National:
“We saw children being violent. They attacked us, took our phone and money as well.”
10. Med shot, African nationals
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Belimreza, Bangladesh National:
“During night time they bring a knife, bring a gun, he shoot me, some people die. Die everyday, 20 people, 100 people, 50 people continue to die. So Bangladesh people, he cannot take care of our people.”
12. Wide shot, people milling around and setting up a place to sleep
13. Wide shot, people getting ready to sleep at sunset

Storyline

As tens of thousands of people continue to flee the unrest in Libya to neighbouring Tunisia, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) is establishing transit camps for those with nowhere to go.

By week's end, UNHCR tents will house up to 24,000 people, some from as far away as Vietnam and Bangladesh.

The refugee agency is providing mattresses, tents and other supplies to get through these difficult times. But it is not enough.

UNHCR is calling for a massive international effort to evacuate people from the area to their home countries.

SOUNDBITE (English) Hovig Etyemezian, Protection Officer, United Nations Refugee Agency:
“The crisis is growing. On a daily basis we have more people coming in. We need more ships and airplanes coming in to evacuate the nationals here. The Egyptians, Bangladeshis, Vietnamese. People need to leave at a faster rate otherwise this crisis is going to go worse.”

Tensions are mounting as some people want to go back to their countries while others just want to find their way home in Tunisia.

An estimated 90,000 people have crossed this border in the past two weeks. These buses, called up by the Tunisians, will facilitate their onward journeys.

But these are helping only a few lucky ones.

Some migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been singled out for particular abuse in Libya and at the border.

SOUNDBITE (French) Abdou Karim, Mali National:
“We saw children being violent. They attacked us, took our phone and money as well.”

Others were just scared.

SOUNDBITE (English) Belimreza, Bangladesh National:
“During night time they bring a knife, bring a gun, he shoot me, some people die. Die everyday, 20 people, 100 people, 50 people continue to die. So Bangladesh people, he cannot take care of our people.”

As another day ends, the migrants, refugees or asylum seekers who managed to escape the violence will spend another night in the cold with no roof over their head.