14 Feb 2012

AFGHANISTAN / CHILDREN CAMPS

In the dozens of informal refugee settlements around Kabul, Afghanistan, at least 24 children recently died after exposure during the harshest winter in 15 years. UNHCR Communications Officer Babar Baloch stresses that “for them, day-to-day living is a challenge and once it is winter and harsh cold, it is not easy for them to survive.” He said efforts are now focused on providing supplies so they can survive through the winter. CH UNTV / UNAMA

Posted at: February 14, 2012 7:16 pm

Duration: 02:24

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: AFGHANISTAN / CHILDREN CAMP (v0003)
TRT: 2.24
SOURCE: UNAMA 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 FEBRUARY 2012 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE - KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT – KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

1. Wide shot, snowy informal settlement camp 
2. Wide shot, snowy informal settlement camp

14 FEBRUARY 2012 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Babar Baloch, Communications Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: 
"When you talk about the conditions around Kabul where these peoples have settled into informal settlements, that is more challenging for them because there is no housing for them. They may have erected tents out of plastic sheetings or any other material. And these are really economically impoverished people. For them living – day-to-day living is a challenge, and once it is winter and harsh cold, it's not easy for them to survive."

FILE – RECENT – KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

4. Med shot, Afghan woman holding child walks away leaving small boy in snow
5. Med shot, man carting off snow in wheelbarrow
6. Med shot, children looking out window from their housing

14 FEBRUARY 2012 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Babar Baloch, Communications Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: "This winter is a bit more harsher in last 15 years. The temperatures have gone down to a record level and, these people, who have to, usually they're struggling, had to bear a bit more of cold this winter, and this is what has happened this time or so. Our efforts are now focused on providing these people with supplies that they can survive this winter through."

FILE – RECENT – KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

8. Zoom out, sign for the informal refugee camp

14 FEBRUARY 2012 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Babar Baloch, Communications Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: 
"It is really unfortunate that the deaths occurred in and around Kabul. These are people who choose to live in these informal settlements. They're free to live anywhere in Afghanistan, but there they didn't have the right coping mechanism for this winter."

FILE – RECENT – KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

10. Close shot, Afghan girl
11. Close shot, children's feet in the snow
12. Close shot, Afghan boy

14 FEBRUARY 2012 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Babar Baloch, Communications Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: 
"In terms of responsibility, we work with other agencies and the government itself who has the primary responsibility for its people, ah, so when our, our help is required, we intervene in that regard."

FILE – RECENT – KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

14. Wide shot, children running down lane covered in snow
15. Close shot, Afghan boy

14 FEBRUARY 2012 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Babar Baloch, Communications Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: 
"UNHCR had to mobilize resources from all other provinces into Kabul as our primary responsibility is to the people who are in the rural areas."

FILE – RECENT – KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

17. Zoom out, young Afghan boy standing in snow

STORYLINE:

Afghans who fled unstable conditions in their home regions to relative safety if not prosperity in the dozens of informal refugee settlements around the capital of Kabul are struggling to survive during the harshest winter in years.

UNHCR Communications Officer Babar Baloch said there "there is no housing for them" in these camps, and the refugees have "erected tents out of plastic sheetings or any other material."

For these vulnerable and economically impoverished families, "day-to-day living is a challenge, and once it is winter and harsh cold, it's not easy for them to survive," he said.

Without adequate shelter, clothing and nourishment, the children have been particularly tested by the bitter cold.

Indeed, this winter, with its record low temperatures, has left many struggling and UNHCR responded, Baloch said, by providing supplies to try to help the refugees and internally displaced families survive.

Still, at least 24 children – nearly all infants and young toddlers - have reportedly died in recent weeks from exposure in the camps, where, despite their location in Afghanistan's capital, decent housing just doesn't exist.

Baloch said it was unfortunate that those deaths occurred in Kabul.  While the refugees have freely chosen to live in informal settlements, he says those camps just don't provide the "right coping mechanism for this winter."

He emphasized that UNHCR is working with other agencies and aid groups, as well as the government, which "has the primary responsibility for its people." To address the current need, the UN Refugee Agency chose "to mobilize resources from all other provinces into Kabul as our primary responsibility is to the people who are in the rural areas."

Filed under 09.02.00 - HOUSING 13. - HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF 13.01.00 - PROTECTION OF AND ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS UNAMA - United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNTV - United Nations Television.