SOMALIA / UNREST

The UN agency says that displaced Somalis are on the move again, worried about an escalation in violence - this time from the Agoye corridor back to areas of the capital, Mogadishu. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:01
• Production Date: 29 March 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: U120329c

Description

STORY: SOMALIA / UNREST
TRT: 2.01
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SOMALIA / NATS

DATELINE: 12,13 FEBRUARY 2012, AFGOOYE CORRIDOR, SOMALIA

Shotlist

1. Various shots, IDPs on the move
2. Various shots, Afgooye Corridor
3. Wide shot, women on the move with her children
4. SOUNDBITE (Somalia) Isha Ali Kerow, Returning IDP:
"I left because of fear and everybody is fleeing .We don’t have any means of transport, we’re walking.’’
5. Various shots, loaded donkeys with vehicles in the background
6. Various shots, vehicles on the move carrying luggage with army presence
7. Wide shot, people the move carrying luggage
8. Med shot, a man unloading his belongings on arrival
9. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Returning IDP:
“The reason I escaped is because we fear there is going to be some bombing.”
10. Med shot, woman with belongings walking
11. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Returning IDP:
“We escaped from fear, nothing else than fear.”
12. Wide shot, family in the Afgooye Corridor
13. Various shots, vehicle convoy
14. Wide shot, truck full of people and goods

Storyline

These Somalis are on the move again, internally displaced (IDPs) in their own country for the
second, third, maybe even fourth time.

In the past year hundreds of thousands of people moved to escape the fighting in the capital Mogadishu.

They did not go far, a few kilometers out of the city to the Afgooye corridor, a 40 kilometer long stretch of road, and so out of this a makeshift city sprung up.

One month ago some of these same people worried about a possible escalation of violence decided to move again.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Isha Ali Kerow, returning IDP:
“I left because of fear and everybody is fleeing .We don’t have any means of transport , we’re walking.’’

At one point, there were over 400,000 people living in the Afgooye Corridor.

Many of these families are moving to surrounding villages and parts of Mogadishu which has been more peaceful in recent months.

However, Mogadishu still has some security issues.

Mortar attacks have claimed the lives of at least seven people in recent days…and injured others. The attacks are random, and so anyone returning is taking a risk.

Despite this, this family packed and moved back into the home they fled over three and half years ago.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Returning IDP:
“The reason I escaped is because we fear there is going to be some bombing.”

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Returning IDP:
“We escaped from fear, nothing else than fear.”

Pro-government forces had 'advised' civilians in Afgooye corridor to leave the area for their own safety.

But humanitarian agencies worry that some of the displaced have nowhere to go while others could be caught in the middle of military activities.