CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC / GUTERRES

The head of the UN refugee agency Antonio Guterres visited with the internally displaced at Bangui airport in Central African Republic (CAR). He said the international community needs to give CAR the same focus as Syria and South Sudan. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:49
• Production Date: 12 February 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
• MAMS Id: U140212g

Description

STORY: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC / GUTERRES
TRT: 2.49
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 12 FEBRUARY 2014, BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Mpoko airport Internally Displaced People (IPD) camp, Bangui
2. Various shots, camp and Internally Displaced people
3. Various shots, Antonio Guterres arriving at the camp
4. Various shots, Antonio Guterres talking to displaced people
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees:
“There is an ethno-religious cleansing that is taking place, that we must stop at all costs. There are indiscriminate killings and massacres here in some areas of the country”
6. Various shots, Antonio Guterres talking to displaced people
7. Wide shot, Antonio Guterres talking to Solange Pinguissar, a displaced woman
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees:
“We need a massive response, a security response first of all if one sees the displaced camp like the one here close to the airport it is in terrible conditions and it is absolutely central to re-establish security in the neighborhood where these people came from in order to allow them go back and go back voluntarily in safety and dignity.”
9. Med shot, Solange Pinguissar walking in the camp
10. Wide shot, Solange Pinguissar sitting with her family
SOUNDBITE (French) Solange Pinguissar, Internally Displaced Person:
“I would like that they could find a solution. Only peace will allow us to return home in order to live a comfortable life and not stay and waste time in this camp.”
11. Close up, child behind a barbed wire fence in the camp
12. Wide shot, children standing on big pipes
13. Med shot, child washing a baby
14. Close up, child holding onto fence and looking out
15. Close up, children holding onto fence and looking out

Storyline

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, wrapped up a visit to the Central African Republic and said today (12 Feb) that he had witnessed a humanitarian catastrophe of unspeakable proportions.

He stressed that the Central African Republic is falling through the cracks of international attention; adding that the country needs the same focus that is being put on Syria and South Sudan.

The High Commissioner said that massive ethno-religious cleansing was continuing and that shocking barbarity, brutality and inhumanity have characterized the violence in the country.

Guterres also said that he was deeply distressed that nearly half a million Central Africans have been newly displaced since December alone. In all, 2.5 millions are in desperate need.

He stressed that humanitarian agencies and non governmental organizations were doing an exceptional job in helping the victims of this humanitarian crisis but that they all faced dramatic under-funding.

In that sense, he said “we need a massive response, a security response first of all if one sees the displaced camp like the one here close to the airport it is in terrible conditions and it is absolutely central to re-establish security in the neighborhood where these people came from in order to allow them go back and go back voluntarily in safety and dignity.”

The High Commissioner also stressed it was vital to re-establish security, law and order in the Central African Republic. He added that the international community must come together for a significant and immediate increase of the forces and police on the ground.

Violence and insecurity has displaced over half a million people, including Solange Pinguissara.

Solange comes from the 5th District of Bangui, less than a kilometer away. She is a single mother of four children and six grand-daughters.

When the Seleka militia entered her neighborhood her entire family fled to the airport.

She said “I would like that they could find a solution. Only peace will allow us to return home in order to live a comfortable life and not stay and waste time in this camp.”