15 Oct 2011

INDIA / SRI LANKAN REFUGEES

For the first time in many years, Sri Lankan refugees are returning home from India by ferry. So far this year, the UN Refugee Agency has repatriated almost 1,500 Sri Lankan refugees exclusively by plane, but after this trial, refugees are expected to return home by ferry on a weekly basis. UNHCR

Posted at: October 15, 2011 12:01 am

Duration: 02:38

Available in: SD

DOWNLOAD

Full script

STORY: INDIA / SRI LANKAN REFUGEES 
TRT: 2:38
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / TAMIL / NATS

DATELINE: 11 OCTOBER 2011, PORT OF TUTICORIN, INDIA

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, ferry in harbour
2. Med shot, returning Sri Lankan refugees waiting
3. Med shot, Refugees with bags
4. Med shot, A. Selvarani returning Sri Lankan refugee walking
5. SOUNDBITE (Tamil) A. Selvarani, Returning Refugee: 
"It has been very long since I left home, so I feel good. Now I'm sure I will leave today, and I will see all my relatives very soon."
6. Wide shot, warehouse
7. Various shots, Selvarani getting her ticket
8. Close-up, ticket and papers
9. SOUDBITE (Tamil) Robinson Kumar, Returning Refugee: 
We've lived a very long time here in India. I studied here, and made friends. Now I am glad I am leaving and returning to my country. It's like a dream come true when I imagine how I will live there."
10. Close-up, A. Selvarani
11. Wide shot, transport bus arriving at the ferry
12. Med shot, people getting off the bus onto the ferry
13. SOUDBITE (English) Montserrat Feixas Vihe, UNHCR India: 
"For them to be able to go home to meet the families, to reunite with their families, to start their lives again with all they have been able to get together all these years. They are taking a lot of luggage and they also accumulated a lot of education, some of them have been able to go to university so they are really hoping to go back and start a new life and contribute to their own country. (QUESTION: Are some of them scared not knowing what to find back over there?) Of course because you know after 20 years some were born here and have never been to Sri Lanka so it's really a new life starting for them. There are a lot of unknowns and they are hoping for the best. There is of course some anxiety but we are there to accompany them and reassure them. And with our colleagues in Sri Lanka will be with them to be sure things go alright."
Med shot, little girl and mother walking onto the ferry
Various shots, ferry leaves the port

STORYLINE:

For the first time in many years, Sri Lankan refugees are returning home from India by ferry.

At the port of Tuticorin in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, 15 families are getting ready to embark on an overnight journey to Colombo.

They will soon rediscover the homeland many of them fled 20 years ago during a time of conflict.

SOUNDBITE (Tamil) A. Selvarani, Returning Refugee: 
"It has been very long since I left home, so I feel good. Now I'm sure I will leave today, and I will see all my relatives very soon."

Selvarani arrived in India in 1990 with her 3 daughters and 2 sons. A third son was born in India. The whole family is excited, and anticipating their future

SOUDBITE (Tamil) Robinson Kumar, Returning Refugee: 
We've lived a very long time here in India. I studied here, and made friends. Now I am glad I am leaving and returning to my country. It's like a dream come true when I imagine how I will live there."

Late evening, the families experience their last moments on the Indian soil.

In less than 24 hours, they will be reunited with those they left behind during the years of conflict.

For the younger ones, Sri Lanka is an unknown country to be discovered for the first time.

SOUDBITE (English) Montserrat Feixas Vihe, UNHCR India: 
"For them to be able to go home to meet the families, to reunite with their families, to start their lives again with all they have been able to get together all these years. They are taking a lot of luggage and they also accumulated a lot of education, some of them have been able to go to university so they are really hoping to go back and start a new life and contribute to their own country. (QUESTION: Are some of them scared, not knowing what to find back over there?) Of course because you know after 20 years some were born here and have never been to Sri Lanka so it's really a new life starting for them. There are a lot of unknowns and they are hoping for the best. There is of course some anxiety but we are there to accompany them and reassure them. And with our colleagues in Sri Lanka will be with them to be sure things go alright."

So far this year, UNHCR has repatriated almost 1500 Sri Lankan refugees exclusively by plane. After this trial refugees are expected to return home by ferry on a weekly basis. And 300 more refugees expect to return to Sri Lanka by the end of the year.