Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoGENEVA / SYRIAN REFUGEES INTERVIEW
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: GENEVA / SYRIAN REFUGEES INTERVIEW
TRT: 04:39
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: CREDIT UNHCR AND OCHA FOOTAGE ON SCREEN
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
UNHCR - 29 SEPTEMBER 2024, JDAIDET YABOUS BORDER, SYRIA
1. Various shots, cars at border
10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rula Amin, Senior Communications Adviser, UNHCR:
“The situation on the ground is very fluid. There's a lot of uncertainty. Many people inside Syria and outside Syria are monitoring to see. How will this unfold. Whether there's going to be a peaceful transition of authority.”
UNHCR - 29 SEPTEMBER 2024, JDAIDET YABOUS BORDER, SYRIA
3. Various shots, big tent being used as reception center at border
4. Various shots, UNHCR staff member holding child’s hand
10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rula Amin, Senior Communications Adviser, UNHCR:
“There are more than 6 million Syrian refugees around the world. Most of them have expressed hope, at least to UNHCR, that one day they will be able to return to Syria. In the past these refugees had 2 sets of what they call challenges, they identified as obstacles to their return.”
UNHCR - 08 FEBRUARY 2023, ALEPPO, SYRIA
6. Wide shot, rescuers shoveling rubble
7. Med shot, children in shelter with blankets
8. Med shot, rescuers moving rubble
9. Med shot, People displaced by earthquake
10. Wide shot, people walking in the street among rubble
11. Various shots, destroyed buildings
10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rula Amin, Senior Communications Adviser, UNHCR:
“One is safety and security, and one is the living conditions for safety and security. They were talking about arbitrary detentions, interrogations, disappearances, and these were very much associated with the regime. Now the regime is gone, and there is a new regime emerging, however, there are new risks that are emerging, that people are trying to assess.”
UNHCR - 29 SEPTEMBER 2024, JDAIDET YABOUS BORDER, SYRIA
13. Various shots, people waiting at the border
10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Rula Amin, Senior Communications Adviser, UNHCR:
“Now the other set of conditions that the refugees had identified, and that is related to living conditions are many of their homes had been destroyed. The infrastructure in Syria had been destroyed. There is a very serious challenge in accessing services like electricity, water schools, health facilities. It's all been impacted by the 14 years, almost 14 years of crisis and wars.”
UNHCR - 29 SEPTEMBER 2024, JDAIDET YABOUS BORDER, SYRIA
15. Various shots, people collecting water from taps
10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Rula Amin, Senior Communications Adviser, UNHCR:
“So, all these things are elements that the refugees are considering as they are watching what's happening on the ground inside Syria. And that's why we call on all countries: to give refugees the time not to pressure them, to ensure that they can make informed decisions that they will be able to go back voluntarily. Going back is the ultimate solution for so many refugees, but they need to do that in a way, when at a time of their choosing, when they feel safe”
OCHA - JANUARY 2020, IDLIB GOVERNORATE, SYRIA
17. Aerial shots, destroyed buildings in Ariha
10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Rula Amin, Senior Communications Adviser, UNHCR:
“We see the rush by some countries to think that now, with the removal of the Assad regime. There are no more security risks. But what we're saying is, there are new risks emerging, and the situation is changing by the day. It's only been 3 days.”
OCHA - FEBRUARY 2020, ALEPPO CITY, SYRIA
19. Various shots, school rehabilitated with the support of the Syrian Humanitarian Fund
10 DECEMBER 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Rula Amin, Senior Communications Adviser, UNHCR:
“Our appeal is the refugees need to be given the space and the time to make these decisions, and that even when these measures are being taken to suspend decision making on asylum applications. These asylum seekers should be able to apply and launch their asylum applications, and they should not lose their rights as asylum seekers, while the situation on the ground stabilizes, while we can give clearer guidance on what the situation is inside Syria, and while the countries that are hosting them. Make that decision.
OCHA - FEBRUARY 2020, IDLIB GOVERNORATE, SYRIA
21. Various shots, displaced people leaving Idlib province
About 5.5 million Syrian refugees are hosted in neighboring countries since the beginning of the conflict in Syria. Lebanon was hosting the largest number of refugees per capita in the world with more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon.
These people who had fled Syria in the past 13 years looking for safety in Lebanon, now are leaving Lebanon and returning to their homes. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is accompanying these refugees from the time they arrive to the borders until they reach their hometowns.
UN news had the chance to talk to Rula Amin Senior Communications Advisor for UNHCR, who said that for the 5.5 million Syrians refugees two sets of obstacles stop their return: “The first is safety and security which means active conflict, safety and security from arbitrary arrest, detention, and military conscription. The other set of obstacles is about living conditions: the lack of livelihood, opportunities, lack of hospitals and lack of schools.”
UNHCR has been working with all the different stakeholders and the Syrian Government to try to facilitate the the safe return of refugees and provide them the living conditions they need.
