11 May 2012

AFGHANISTAN / AMOS

The top United Nations relief official, Valerie Amos has called for greater efforts to build the resilience and preparedness of the people of Afghanistan to natural disasters, given the country’s vulnerability to floods and droughts that affect large segments of the population every year. UNAMA

Posted at: May 11, 2012 12:10 pm

Duration: 01:28

Available in: SD

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STORY: AFGHANISTAN / AMOS
TRT: 1.28
SOURCE: UNAMA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 10 MAY 2012, BOZAREG VILLAGE, AFGHANISTAN

SHOTLIST:

10 MAY 2012, BOZAREG VILLAGE, AFGHANISTAN

1. Wide shot, Amos walking with OCHA and local leaders towards the Amu Darya river
2. Wide shot, group walking along river
3. Wide shot, Amos pointing to river and speaking to delegation
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
"People aren't necessarily aware that this is a very disaster-prone country. This community I'm in here now borders Uzbekistan. What you see is river erosion. Five villages in the last six months have just disappeared. Over a thousand people have had to find alternative accommodation places to live with their families."
5. Wide shot, group pointing to the opposite shore
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
"People understand that the people of Afghanistan continue to need our support. It's about two different things. It's about the impact of the conflict, but also about the impact of disasters on this country.  I don't think that anyone wants to see people disappear as a result of this type of erosion."
7. Med shot, Amos speaking to an elderly man from the village
8. Pan left, from village men watching Amos to Amos speaking with the men 
9. Wide shot, group walking towards helicopter

STORYLINE:

The top United Nations relief official has called for greater efforts to build the resilience and preparedness of the people of Afghanistan to natural disasters, given the country's vulnerability to floods and droughts that affect large segments of the population every year.

On the third day of a four-day visit to Afghanistan, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos yesterday (10 May) visited Balkh province in northern Afghanistan.

She met families affected by natural disaster and conflict, as well as with the humanitarian community.

SOUNDBITE (English) Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
"People aren't necessarily aware that this is a very disaster-prone country. This community I'm in here now borders Uzbekistan. What you see is river erosion. Five villages in the last six months have just disappeared. Over a thousand people have had to find alternative accommodation places to live with their families."

Along the Amu Darya river in the village of Buzareg, Amos witnessed the destruction caused by riverbank erosion, which consumes more than 500m of land each year, destroying homes, agriculture lands and livelihoods together with schools, roads, and clinics.

SOUNDBITE (English) Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
"People understand that the people of Afghanistan continue to need our support. It's about two different things. It's about the impact of the conflict, but also about the impact of disasters on this country.  I don't think that anyone wants to see people disappear as a result of this type of erosion."

Filed under 01.03.00 - MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND SECURITY 1 13. - HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF AFGHANISTAN UNAMA - United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.