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UNHCR / MIGRANTS RESCUE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
STORY: UNHCR / MIGRANTS RESCUE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
TRT: 2.45
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /ARABIC /NATS
DATELINE: 21 MARCH 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – 7-14 MARCH 2014, MEDITERRANEAN SEA , SICILY, ITALY
MARCH 2014, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, ITALY
1. Wide shot, small boat in the sea
2. Med shot, Italian rescue worker pulling a migrant into a rescue boat
3. Med shot, migrants inside the rescue boat
4. Wide shot, rescue boat approaching the navy ship
21 MARCH 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
5. SOUNDBITE (English), António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“Last year, 28 percent more asylum seekers have asked for protection in the developed world. Over 600,000, the largest number since 2001. In the European Union, the gross was 32 percent and Germany became the largest recipient country in the developed world.
MARCH 2014, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, ITALY
6. Various shots, rescuers helping survivors onboard the ship
21 MARCH 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
7. SOUNDBITE (English), António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“Syrians are now the biggest group. And not only the biggest group in 2013, they are the biggest group from one country of origin, since the beginning of the century. “
MARCH 2014, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, ITALY
8. Various shots, migrants onboard the ship
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Alaa Den, Syrian Refugee:
“The conditions in the boat were hard; we were in a small boat with children who were a year old or even younger.”
10. Med shot, migrants standing on the deck
21 MARCH 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
11. SOUNDBITE (English), António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“More important than the numbers are the people and, indeed, the terrible suffering of the Syrian people. That is why we have appealed for all borders to be opened to Syrians. And that is why it really breaks my heart to see Syrians pushed back in some borders and to see Syrians perishing, drowning in unseaworthy boats in the Mediterranean trying to seek safety in Europe.”
MARCH 2014, SICILY, ITALY
12. Various shots, migrants disembarking
In 2013, over 600,000 asylum seekers have asked for protection around the world, one third of them in Europe. Germany thus became the largest asylum seekers recipient country in the developed world.
In a span of just few days Italian Navy has rescued more than 4,000 migrants from overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily.
Majority of migrants have paid over $1,000 to traffickers in Libya to make a dangerous crossing to Italy – the gate to European Union. Hundreds die every year.
SOUNDBITE (English), António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“Last year, 28 percent more asylum seekers have asked for protection in the developed world. Over 600,000, the largest number since 2001. In the European Union, the gross was 32 percent and Germany became the largest recipient country in the developed world."
Those fortunate to survive harrowing journey are scooped by Italian Navy and brought to ships and given food and shelter. Those in need get medical assistance.
The largest group of migrants to Europe in 2013 came from Syria.
SOUNDBITE (English), António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“Syrians are now the biggest group. And not only the biggest group in 2013, they are the biggest group from one country of origin, since the beginning of the century. “
Alaa Den is but another Syrian who has traveled in an overcrowded small boat full of children year old or less. He said that conditions were terrible.
After three years of devastating civil war, Syrians are desperate to make the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea and find a refuge in Europe.
12. SOUNDBITE (English), António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“More important than the numbers are the people and, indeed, the terrible suffering of the Syrian people. That is why we have appealed for all borders to be opened to Syrians. And that is why it really breaks my heart to see Syrians pushed back in some borders and to see Syrians perishing, drowning in unseaworthy boats in the Mediterranean trying to seek safety in Europe.”
On a global level, Afghanistan, which in the previous two years was the world's principal country of origin for asylum-seekers, ranked third in terms of new claims behind Syria and the Russian Federation. Among the top-10 countries of origin, six are experiencing violence or conflict – Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Iraq and Pakistan.
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