IRAQ / TEMPORARY SHELTER

When the government of Northern Iraq opened its borders thousands arrived. In just one week, over forty-thousand people have crossed. With Domiz camp already short of space, a temporary camp in Kawargost was created. There are now over 7,000 people staying here, and more keep coming. (UNHCR)

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:55
• Production Date: 24 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: U130824b

Description

STORY: IRAQ / TEMPORARY SHELTER
TRT: 1:55
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: KURDISH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 17, 21 AUGUST 2013, ERBIL GOVERNORATE, IRAQ

Shotlist

21 AUGUST 2013, ERBIL GOVERNORATE, IRAQ

1. Various shots, Kawargost Camp
2. Various shots, refugees walk into camp
3. Wide shot, camp
4. Med shot, children play in tent
5. Wide shot, Aly Omar stands outside his tent
6. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Aly Omar, Syrian Refugee:
“My health conditions are really bad, I am very sick. Today I was very hungry and UNHCR provided me with food and water. My wife is also very old and sick and we cannot go to the distribution areas. UNHCR also took me to the clinic where I received these medicines.

17 AUGUST 2013, PESHKHABOUR IRAQ

7. Still image, refugees on Peshkhabour pontoon bridge

21 AUGUST 2013, ERBIL GOVERNORATE, IRAQ

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Aly Omar, Syrian Refugee:
“I really thank UNHCR for saving my life.”
9. Med shot, two men carry tents
10. Wide shot, men put up tents
11. Various shots, food and materials distributed from truck
12. Wide shot, boy stands by UNHCR tent
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Claire Bourgeois, UNHCR Iraq:
“Everybody that wants to seek asylum should be allowed to enter into the country to find protection and security.”
14. Pan left, children
15. Med shot, mother brushes child’s hair
16. Close up, mother carries child through camp

Storyline

A week ago on this site, there was nothing but emptiness. Now hundreds of tents, shelter for the thousands, fill the landscape.

When the government of Northern Iraq opened its borders thousands arrived. In just one week, over forty-thousand people have crossed.

With Domiz camp already short of space, a temporary camp in Kawargost was created.

There are now over 7,000 people staying here, and more keep coming.

Aly Omar is 70-years-old, from the Hassaka province in Syria.

SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Aly Omar, Syrian Refugee:
“My health conditions are really bad, I am very sick. Today I was very hungry and UNHCR provided me with food and water. My wife is also very old and sick and we cannot go to the distribution areas. UNHCR also took me to the clinic where I received these medicines. I really thank UNHCR for saving my life.”

Providing these services fast, is the challenge for the humanitarian agencies.

Food and water are being brought from the capital Erbil about 60 kilometres away. New camps are being built and more are planned.

UNHCR says it is thankful to the Kurdish government for opening its border.

SOUNDBITE (English) Aly Omar, Syrian Refugee:
“I really thank UNHCR for saving my life.”

Many of the refugees say they are fleeing because of a rise in violence in their region, others say the lack of food and water forced them to leave their homes.

SOUNDBITE (English) Claire Bourgeois, UNHCR Iraq:
“Everybody that wants to seek asylum should be allowed to enter into the country to find protection and security.”

This exodus from Syria is among the largest seen so far in the conflict, now into its third year.