25 Mar 2011

LIBERIA / HOST FAMILIES

Liberians have opened their homes to Ivorian refugees fleeing from their country. Despite having little for themselves they are sharing with those who have less. UNHCR

Posted at: March 25, 2011 2:25 pm

Duration: 01:56

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: LIBERIA / HOST FAMILIES
TRT: 1.56
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 MARCH 2011, ZWEDRU, LIBERIA

SHOTLIST:

1. Pan right, from sign to refugee centre
2. Pan rights, crowd lined up
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Francis, Ivorian Refugee:
"Lots of sick people, lots of people were escaping Côte d'Ivoire. We were panicked, old people. We were in the jungle, looking for something to eat but there was nothing."
4. Wide shot, refugee women sitting against a tree 
5. Close up, old woman's face
6. Med shot, Gabriel Gobe Selou and his family walking
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Gabriel Gobe Selou, Ivorian Refugee:
"They are innocent those one. Children are innocent. Some people had to flee without their children. We went through the jungle not the road."
8. Various shots, children
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Gabriel Gobe Selou, Ivorian Refugee:
"They are innocent those one. Children are innocent. Some people had to flee without their children. We went through the jungle not the road."
10. Close up, identity card
11. Med shot, registration
12. Tracking shot, Gabriel Gobe Selou and his family arrive at Odosmal Towah's home and is greeted by people
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Odosmal Towah, Liberian host:
"They are my African brothers. We experienced war. We Liberians had 14 years of civil war; we know the experience of war. We know. We know the taste of war. I feel sorry for them so I accommodate them and they can be with us."
14. Wide shot, Gabriel Gobe Selou and his family and Odosmal Towah's family

STORYLINE:

They arrived into Liberia by the thousands; Ivorian men, women and children trying to escape the overtaking of their villages.

Francis says he ran like all the others to save his life.

SOUNDBITE (French) Francis, Ivorian refugee:
"Lots of sick people, lots of people were escaping Côte d'Ivoire. We were panicked, old people. We were in the jungle, looking for something to eat but there was nothing."

They've come to the border town to Zwedru looking for safety and food.

And now they wait.

Gabriel Gobe Selou arrived on March 23 with 12 members of his family.
A coco farmer, he said the attackers arrived in his village in a 4x4 and just started shooting.

SOUNDBITE (French) Gabriel Gobe Selou, Ivorian refugee:
"They were shooting in all directions, they were not distinguishing, this one is PET, this one RDS bullets were going everything. They shot in all directions including with rockets. So we fled the village."

The attackers were indiscriminate women and children were also targets.

SOUNDBITE (French) Gabriel Gobe Selou, Ivorian refugee:
"They are innocent those one. Children are innocent. Some people had to flee without their children. We went through the jungle not the road."

People ran with almost nothing. Registration will help them get aid but in the mean time they are relying on the generosity of the people in the town.

Gabriel's family is being received by Odosmal Towah. He will give all of them a place to stay. Odosmal own family is large, 8 people, still he wants to help. He was himself a refugee in Côte d'Ivoire between for almost ten years.

SOUNDBITE (English) Odosmal Towah, Liberian host:
"They are my African brothers. We experienced war. We Liberians had 14 years of civil war we know the experience of war. We know. We know the taste of war. I feel sorry for them so I accommodate them and they can be with us."

It is a generosity that is widespread. Liberians have opened their homes to the Ivorian refugees. Despite having little for themselves, they are sharing with those who have less.

For now, many of the refugees are choosing to stay close to the border, but they are all too aware that a political solution must be found if they're to go home.

A solution seems distant the fighting in Côte d'Ivoire has taken a turn for the worse with more and more people fleeing for safety.

Filed under 09.02.00 - HOUSING 13.01.00 - PROTECTION OF AND ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS LIBERIA UNHCR - Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.