IRAQ / SYRIA BORDER CROSSING

In the last six days over 30,000 Syrian refugees have fled into northern Iraq. At the Sahela border point, the refugees said they were escaping the early morning bombing around the city of Al-Malikiyah. (UNHCR)

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:55
• Production Date: 20 August 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: IRAQ; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: U130820d

Description

STORY: IRAQ / SYRIA BORDER CROSSING
TRT: 1.55
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 19 AUGUST 2013, SAHELA BORDER POINT, NORTHERN IRAQ / STILLS

Shotlist

19 AUGUST 2013, SAHELA BORDER POINT, NORTHERN IRAQ

1. Med shot, refugees carrying belonging
2. Wide shot, mass of refugees
3. Med shot, Refugees on back of pick up and others walking with belongings
4. Med shot, children carrying bags

STILL IMAGES UNHCR - 17 AUGUST 2013,

5. Close up, refugees crossing the pontoon bridge at the Peshkhabour border
6. Close up, refugees near Peshkhabour

19 AUGUST 2013, SAHELA BORDER POINT, NORTHERN IRAQ

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Erdogan Kalkan, UNHCR Dohuk:
“Since the 15th of August the government of Kurdistan has opened the border to refugees arriving from Syria. The first day more than 7,000 people streamed through the border. Since then more than 25,000 people have crossed the border.”
8. Med shot, elderly man walking with cane
9. Med shot, little girl in the window of the bus
10. Med shot, refugees with two babies under shelter
11. Med shot, UNHCR officer with megaphone
12. Med shot, People in the shelter
13. Wide shot, men lining up for ID checks
14. Med shot, men lining up for ID checks
15. Med shot, men lining up for ID checks
16. Close up, men lining up for ID checks
17. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed Hussein (Hasseka), Syrian refugee:
“The situation is bad” Rockets were launched. There is a bread, electricity crisis; the situation is bad.”
18. Wide shot, many people trying to get on a bus
19. Wide shot, more people try to board bus
20. Med shot, man walking with melon
21. Med shot, refugees gather for bread
22. Med shot, refugees sitting on ground eating
23. Med shot, refugees sitting under shelter

Storyline

In the last six days over 30,000 Syrian refugees have fled into northern Iraq.

At the Sahela border point, the refugees said they were escaping the early morning bombing around the city of Al-Malikiyah.

The new arrivals have fled the eastern region of the country, but some have come from as far west as Aleppo.

The massive influx began last Thursday (15 August) when Kurdistan Regional Government opened the Peshkhabour pontoon bridge

People crossed over in unprecedented numbers.

SOUNDBITE (English) Erdogan Kalkan, UNHCR Dohuk:
“Since the 15th of August the government of Kurdistan has opened the border to refugees arriving from Syria. The first day more than 7,000 people streamed through the border. Since then more than 25,000 people have crossed the border.”

For many the journey to this unofficial crossing was harsh and long.
Nearly half the new arrivals are children.

Sometimes in the rush to the border children and parents are separated which staff try to reunite.

Shelters provide some shade while heads of households have their identities checked by the local authorities.

The hardship forced them to leave.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed Hussein (Hasseka), Syrian refugee:
“The situation is bad. Rockets were launched. There is a bread and electricity crisis. The situation is bad.”

Once identities have been checked transportation is arranged to temporary sites in Erbil or Sulemaniyah, the two major cities in the region.

People are finding shelter there in tents, schools, warehouses, mosques and with host families. But more shelter is needed.

New facilities are urgently being created to shelter the refugees. The one camp in the region, Domiz is already filled to capacity.