NIGER / MALI REFUGEES

The UN refugee agency is appealing for $35.6 million to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis resulting from the renewed fighting in northern Mali between government forces and Tuareg rebels. In Sinegodar near the border of Mali and Niger, over 8,000 Malians have arrived with little more than they could carry. The urgency is to move them to safe ground. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:11
• Production Date: 24 February 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: MALI; NIGER
• MAMS Id: U120224c

Description

STORY: NIGER / MALI REFUGEES
TRT: 2.11
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 15,16 FEBRUARY 2012, SINEGODAR, NIGER

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Sinegodar camp with kid walking
2. Wide shot, camp with refugee women sitting
3. Med shot, women cleaning dishes
4. Wide shot, Agaly walking to his makeshift shelter
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Agaly, Malian Refugee:
“There was panic among the women and children, among the civilians who did not have any weapons to defend themselves. People were afraid because of the noise from the shooting, they were not used to that.”
6. Wide shot, chid crying next to her mother
7. Wide shot, Asiata (Agaly's wife) feeding baby
8. Wide shot, Asiata feeding baby with Agaly helping
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Agaly, Malian Refugee:
“The trip was very difficult, we must admit it, because the women were carrying children in their arms and they were walking with luggage on their heads. Some refugees had carts for their move and those who had some financial means were using vehicles, 4X4 which belonged to private people in order to come there.”
10. Wide shot, Agaly taking care of his goats
11. Wide shot, camp
12. Wide shot, refugee women standing
13. Wide shot, camp
14. Wide shot, boy plying with sand
15. Wide shot, Valentin Tapsoba listening to refugees
16. SOUNDBITE (French) Valentin Tapsoba, Regional Representative for West Africa, UNHCR:
“You know that the camp here in Sinegodar is located only 7 to 9 kilometers away from the border. We cannot leave the refugees there for a long time. So yesterday, with the authorities, we identified a site which seems appropriate for the relocation of this group.”
17. Med shot, Agaly entering his makeshifts shelter
18. Wide shot, Agaly in his makeshift shelter
19. SOUNDBITE (French) Agaly, Malian Refugee:
“We really hope that this situation can be resolved so that the people can be well again.”
20. Wide shot, camp
21. Wide shot, refugee boy with donkey
22. Wide shot, refugee women and her makeshift shelter
23. Med shot, women in makeshift shelter with children
24. Wide shot, refugees walking with donkey

Storyline

In Sinegodar, near the border of Mali -Niger this makeshift site now hosts over 8,000 people.

Agaly came with his wife and their two children when their village was attacked in early February by armed men.

SOUNDBITE (French) Agaly, Malian Refugee:
“There was panic among the women and children, among the civilians who did not have any weapons to defend themselves. People were afraid because of the noise from the shooting they were not used to that.”

The villagers left everything behind and fled to Niger. Agaly paid for his family’s transport, his wife was 9 months pregnant.

SOUNDBITE (French) Agaly, Malian Refugee:
“The trip was very difficult, we must admit it, because the women were carrying children in their arms and they were walking with luggage on their heads. Some refugees had carts for their move and those who had some financial means were using vehicles, 4X$ which belonged to private people in order to come there.”

Agaly’s wife, Asiata, gave birth in the camp one week after their escape. To protect the newborn child, Agaly used some of his teacher’s wages to rent a small house. But this is temporary.

This influx of several thousand refugees from Mali has put a lot of pressure on the local population. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. A severe drought in the Sahel region already puts millions at risk.

UNHCR is also concerned about refugees’ proximity to the border. Moving them away from this volatile area is urgent.

SOUNDBITE (French) Valentin Tapsoba, Regional Representative for West Africa, UNHCR:
“You know that the camp here in Sinegodar is located only 7 to 9 kilometers away from the border. We cannot leave the refugees there for a long time. So yesterday, with the authorities, we identified a site which seems appropriate for the transfer of this group.”

Agaly is grateful for what he has received from the locals and humanitarian agencies, his hope now is for peace.

SOUNDBITE (French) Agaly, Malian Refugee:
“We really hope that this situation can be resolved so that the people can be well again.”

The government of Niger has chosen a site near Ouallam, an hour north of the Niger’s capital Niamey, to set up a camp. UNHCR will supply tents and other relief material for the refugees. A move inland will offer the Sinegodar refugees greater safety and shelter.