TUNISIA / REFUGEES LIBYA

Up to a 2,000 people a day are escaping the fighting in Libya and crossing the border to Tunisia. The Tunisian government estimates that well over 100,000 have crossed since late February. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:33
• Production Date: 7 March 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: LIBYA; TUNISIA
• MAMS Id: U110307d

Description

STORY: TUNISIA / REFUGEES LIBYA
TRT:1.33
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: VIETNAMESE / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 5 MARCH 2011, RAS DJIR, TUNISIA

Shotlist

1.Wide shot, UNHCR camp
2. Various shot, people at the water point in the camp washing their hair
3. Med shot, person is being shaved by another one
4. Wide shot, people waiting in line
5. Med shot, people eating from plastic plates
6. Med shot, people sleeping on the ground
7. Med shot, people sitting and playing cards
8. Med shot, people sitting
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Phan Kim Chung, refugee:
“I was not been paid for two months by the Korean company I worked for in Libya.”
10. Wide shot, people walking in the camp
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Unidentified Libyan man, back to camera:
“We need freedom. Freedom of speech. We broke the wall of silence. We cannot talk. We cannot do anything in Libya. Whatever you want to think of you will be captured. You will be put into the prison.”
12. Wide shot of refugees
13. Wide shot, camp
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Farux Hossaim, Bangladeshi:
“We have not have not three months money. At least now. Three month. Three months I have no money. I want money because I worked hard. This is my money. This is my work money. Not another thing.”
15. Various shots, people protesting
16. Wide shot, people walking
17. Wide shot, border,
18. Med shot, men walking with bags

Storyline

A sea of tents and thousands still waiting to go home. The majority are from Bangladesh, but there are also Vietnamese, Sudanese and Nigerians. And the arrivals continue, up to a 2,000 a day escaping the fighting in Libya.

Most are migrant workers who were employed in construction.

Here at least they have a place to sleep. They are able to wash and even get a hair cut.

But unless someone arranges their passage home, they are stuck.

SOUNDBITE (English) Phan Kim Chung, Vietnamese:
“I was not been paid for two months by the Korean company I worked for in Libya.”

For Libyans who have fled, the problem is aggravated by their fears.

SOUNDBITE (English) Unidentified Libyan:
“We need freedom, freedom of speech. We broke the wall of silence. We cannot talk. We cannot do anything in Libya. Whatever you want to think of you will be captured, you will be put into the prison.”

This man cannot be identified for fear of his life.

This man has also been left stranded and penniless.

SOUNDBITE (English) Farux Hossaim, Bangladeshi:
“We have not have not three months money. At least now, three month. Three months, I have no money. I want money because I worked hard. This is my money. This is my work money. Not another thing.”

Over the weekend these migrants expressed their frustration at the time it was taking to get the flight arranged.

But assistance is on its way. IOM (International Office of Migration) is planning up to six flights a day to Dakar, Bangladesh, so within the next ten days many should be on their way home.

The Tunisian government estimates that well over 100,000 have crossed since late February.

The process to move people is working, but UNHCR and other agencies say that they cannot be complacent. With the escalating violence in the country, they are bracing themselves for a possible exodus of Libyans.