GENEVA / SYRIA CAR REFUGEES

The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says that the needs of the Syrian people remain immense and the amount of aid that the agency has been able to deliver is still nowhere near enough. On the Central African Republic, the agency says  more than half a million of people have been displaced within the country since the crisis began in December 2012. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:22
• Production Date: 10 December 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: U131210e

Description

STORY: GENEVA / SYRIA CAR REFUGEES
TRT: 2.22
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 10 DECEMBER 2013, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, aerial view of the Palais des Nations

10 DECEMBER 2013, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, general view of Press Briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesman, UNHCR:
“Despite the scale of these efforts, the needs remain immense and insecurity routinely prevents access to many areas. With an estimated 6.5 million people now internally displaced and many more in need of help, we have been working to provide additional support including healthcare to almost one million beneficiaries, legal protection and community services to 155,000 beneficiaries, shelter rehabilitation and financial assistance for the most vulnerable.”
4. Wide shot, briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Amin Awad, Director, UNHCR’s Middle East and
North Africa Bureau:
“This is one of the harshest winters, according to any forecast that you may get hold of, probably in the last 100 years. We started our winterization programme earlier this year. We are distributing winterization kits inside Syria but also in surrounding countries. The kerosene, the
insulation for tents, the plastic sheeting, the water proofing in collective centres, the cash for fuel and also warm clothing, especially for vulnerable people and children.”
6. Wide shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesman, UNHCR:
“This brings to more than half a million the total number of people displaced within the Central African Republic since the crisis began in December 2012. As of late last night, an estimated 108,000 people were staying in 30 locations across Bangui. The sites are mainly churches, mosques, public buildings and the airport. In addition, an unknown number of people have moved to the mostly Muslim neighbourhood called Kilometre 5, in the northwest of Bangui.”
8. Close up, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesman, UNHCR:
“Armed clashes and sporadic gunfire in Bangui were reported yesterday afternoon until 2 this morning. Displaced people that we’ve spoken to have told us that they’re hoping to see disarmament take place in their neighbourhoods and to be able to return to their homes. They say they plan to leave the sites where they currently are as soon as the ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka militiamen in their areas are disarmed and security restored.”
10. Close up, journalists

Storyline

With the crisis in Syria now having passed 1000 days, the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says that the needs of the Syrian people remain immense and the amount of aid that the agency has been able to deliver is still nowhere near enough. Since the start of 2013, UNHCR has brought relief supplies to more than 3 million people in Syria.

Adrian Edwards, Spokesman for UNHCR, said: “despite the scale of these efforts, the needs remain immense and insecurity routinely prevents access to many areas. With an estimated 6.5 million people now internally displaced and many more in need of help, we have been working to provide additional support including healthcare to almost one million beneficiaries, legal protection and community services to 155,000 beneficiaries, shelter rehabilitation and financial assistance for the most vulnerable.”

Amin Awad, Director, UNHCR’s Middle East and North Africa bureau, which leads UNHCR’s Syria response, says that the Syrian people are encountering one of the harshest winters on record over the past 100 years. He says that UNHCR is distributing emergency supplies to deal with winter conditions and says that vulnerable people and children need particular help.

The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says that more than 100,000 people have now been displaced in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, due to fear of sectarian and armed attacks in the wake of heavy fighting between ex-Seleka rebels and self-defence forces last Thursday.

Adrian Edwards, Spokesman for UNHCR, says: “This brings to more than half a million the total number of people displaced within the Central African Republic since the crisis began in December 2012. As of late last night, an estimated 108,000 people were staying in 30 locations across Bangui. The sites are mainly churches, mosques, public buildings and the airport. In addition, an unknown number of people have moved to the mostly Muslim neighbourhood called Kilometre 5, in the northwest of Bangui.”

Displaced people have told UNHCR staff that they’re hoping disarmament will take place in their neighbourhoods and that they will be able to return to their homes. They say they plan to leave the sites where they currently staying as soon as the ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka militiamen in their areas are disarmed and security has been restored.