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STORY: IRAQ / DISPLACED EXODUS
TRT: 2.56
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 13 – 14 AUGUST 2014, DOHUK, IRAQ
1. Various shots, displaced Iraqis crossing Iraq-Syria border
2. Med shot, young woman screaming and collapsing
3. Pan right, unconscious woman being carried away
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nathum, Displaced Iraqi:
“We had nothing. We were dying of thirst, hunger. There was nothing there. We have been walking for 12 days, many people died, we feel distraught.”
5. Pan left, newly arrived IDPs carrying blankets
6. Wide shot, IDPS crossing bridge
7. Pan right, woman carrying baby
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saeed, Displaced Iraqi:
“I am lucky my family wasn’t killed but close friends of mine lost their families. Whole families gone, killed, exterminated.”
9. Various shots, people sitting down drinking and eat waiting for the bus to go to camp
10. Various shots, new camp site being erected
11. Pan right, man crossing the camp with his daughter
12. Wide shot, people sitting under makeshift tents awaiting new ones
13. Wide shot, Khodr and his family sitting under their tent
14. Various shots, baby girl in cradle
15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khodr, Displaced Iraqi:
“We had one bottle of water and divided it among us, one bottle. Each person drinks water in the lid, just to have a sip and not die, that’s it, just to survive.”
16. Various shots, people pushing to get food rations
17. Wide shot, people sitting under makeshift tents
18. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khodr, Displaced Iraqi:
“I don’t know, I don’t know if we will ever be able to go back. We don’t want Sinjar anymore. If it’s going to remain like this we don’t want to go back. If we go back today, we will all be dead tomorrow.”
19. Wide shot, IDP tent with sheep in background
20. Various shots, woman making bread
21. Wide shot, IDPs sitting under makeshift tents surrounded by rubbish
As the number of people crossing from conflict-affected areas in Iraq into safe zones in Northern Region of Kurdistan decreases, hundreds of Iraqis fleeing fighting in Sinjar and surrounding areas are arriving in dire conditions at the Peshkahbour border crossing.
More than 80 thousand have crossed since the beginning of the crisis in early August and thousands more may make the journey in the coming days. Crossing the pontoon bridge over the Tigris River into Iraq is a relief to many who suffered greatly in recent weeks.
While some can still carry themselves, others barely make it.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nathum, Displaced Iraqi:
“We had nothing. We were dying of thirst, hunger. There was nothing there. We have been walking for 12 days, many people died, we feel distraught.”
It’s difficult to find survivors here without emotional scars. Some speak of seeing dead children left by the side of the road; others of pregnant mothers who gave birth on the mountain, and kept walking – their new-born clutched in their arms.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saeed, Displaced Iraqi:
“I am lucky my family wasn’t killed but close friends of mine lost their families. Whole families gone, killed, exterminated.”
As aid agencies rush to secure shelter for those who fled, many displaced Iraqis are living temporarily in schools, hotels or tented camps. One such camp is Bajet Kandela, formerly a transit site for Syrian refugees now being expanded to accommodate Iraqis. For families who fled with nothing; a tent, hot food and water are a respite from the hardships they have endured on their journey.
A week ago these were fields of dry grass, today they are being transformed into a city of 1,500 tents.
Three other camps are under construction in and around Duhok city.
As families arrive, they await their turn to move into a new tent. In the meantime, they make do with what little they can find.
Khodr arrived with 24 members of his family. The family- including this 2-month old girl- walked for six days across the mountain to reach safety.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khodr, Displaced Iraqi:
“We had one bottle of water and divided it among us, one bottle. Each person drinks water in the lid, just to have a sip and not die, that’s it, just to survive.”
Water and food go quickly in this camp. Those who persevere get something, those left behind endure bread or rice for another day.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khodr, Displaced Iraqi:
“I don’t know, I don’t know if we will ever be able to go back. We don’t want Sinjar anymore. If it’s going to remain like this we don’t want to go back. If we go back today, we will all be dead tomorrow.”
Fear and hardship have left a long-lasting scar on the thousands, desperate for an end to their suffering.
