MAURITANIA / MALI AID

UNHCR and partner organizations are taking on the challenges of helping refugees arriving from Mali at the isolated and arid northern border of Mauritania. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:38
• Production Date: 17 March 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: MALI; MAURITIUS
• MAMS Id: U120317a

Description

STORY: MAURITANIA / MALI AID
TRT: 2.38
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 3-5 MARCH 2012, FASSALA, MAURITANIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, refugees queuing for water
2. Close up, children drinking
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Phillipe Creppy, UNHCR Mauritania:
“In regards to the water, we have been able to bring in three trucks here, that means three cisterns of water. We have three here and three in Fassala. UNHCR is working in both locations to support the refugees.”
4. Med shot, medicine
5. Med shot, doctors taking care of a patient under tent
6. Close up, baby crying
7. Med shot, young girls
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Ely Mohamed, Mauritania Health Services:
“The children here are really suffering. There is a lot of diarrhea, dysentery. We are giving medicines for primary care. Many of the children are severely malnourished.”
9. Med shot, mother receiving medicine
10. Med shot, Jeri can being carry on a donkey
11. Wide shot, stock pile of food
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Baiwong Mahamat, UNHCR Mauritania:
“The food we have is for a period of ten days that will last until the WFP arrives. We have to save lives, which is why we started distribution today in the Bassikouno camp.”
13. Wide shot, the refugee camp
14. Wide shot, UNHCR staff and locals setting up a tent
15. Wide shot, refugee camp

Storyline

In the Sahara desert water is a commodity that people never take for granted.

And none more so than people who have fled their villages and homes.

These new refugee are from Mali. They left to escaping the fighting between the Tuareg rebels and the Malian army.

There are line-ups for water but there is some for everyone. Bringing in water was a priority for UNHCR and its partners.

SOUNDBITE (French) Phillipe Creppy, UNHCR Mauritania:
“In regards to the water, we have been able to bring in three trucks here, that means three cisterns of water. We have three here and three in Fassala. UNHCR is working in both locations to support the refugees.”

Support extends to health care as well.

Local health staff along with UNHCR and other agencies have set up this small tent-clinic to assistance to the most vulnerable.

The journey here can be taxing this baby has bronchitis says the nurse.

This little girl is being checked for malnutrition.

SOUNDBITE (French) Ely Mohamed, Mauritania Health Services:
“The children here are really suffering. There is a lot of diarrhea, dysentery. We are giving medicines for primary care. Many of the children are severely malnourished.”

Her mother is given food supplements, to help her daughter get stronger

The refugees arrive with very little, and in this isolated arid area, in a country facing a severe drought, the challenges of helping the refugees are numerous.

All the food, water and supplies have to be transported across the desert for days.

SOUNDBITE (French) Baiwong Mahamat, UNHCR Mauritania:
“The food we have is for a period of ten days that will last until the WFP arrives. We have to save lives, which is why we started distribution today in the Bassikouno camp.”

In this border area alone there are 20,000 refugees, the services provided to them are essential to their very survival.

But if the conflict continues in Mali most will have to be relocated to UNHCR established camps.