15 Jun 2012

GENEVA / MYANMAR REFUGEES

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) confirmed today that boats carrying Burmese refugees fleeing ethnic violence in Myanmar were being turned away by Bangladesh. CH UNTV

Posted at: June 15, 2012 11:59 am

Duration: 02:53

Available in: SD

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STORY: GENEVA / MYANMAR REFUGEES
TRT:  2:53
SOURCE: CH UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 15 JUNE 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

FILE 2011, PALAIS DES NATIONS, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations

15 JUNE 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej Mahecic, Spokesman, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
"We have first-hand reports of the Bangladeshi security forces turning the arrivals by boat.  There are now a number of boats adrift in the mouth of the Naf river.  We have been talking to the Bangladeshi authorities and we hope that Bangladesh will align with its long tradition of hospitality for the people from Myanmar, will allow access to safe haven and to assistance for these people."
3. Cutaway, journalists in press briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej Mahecic, Spokesman, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
"Bangladesh has been hosting and bearing the brunt of the different crises in Myanmar for years. There are some 30,000 Rohingas in the two camps in Cox's Bazar, there are also an estimated some 2,400,000 people of concern from Myanmar in this area as well, so this is clearly a big issue.  Meanwhile in Myanmar we have been able as part of the UN team, we were able to visit on Wednesday and Thursday the areas affected. The teams saw smouldering villages. Based on what we saw, we consider that the displacement could be considerable. The government estimates some 30,000 people have been displaced."
5. Cutaway, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej Mahecic, Spokesman, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
"There are efforts underway to calm the situation.  The situation is tense still and we are encouraged by the statements that are coming from all levels of the government in Myanmar, calling for calm and restraint from the President down and we hope that some law and order will be reestablished soon that would allow us to redeploy the staff that we had to move from the area temporarily that was done as a precautionary measure."
Wide shot, journalist

STORYLINE:

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) confirmed today (15 June) that boats carrying Burmese refugees fleeing ethnic violence in Myanmar were being turned away by Bangladesh.

Boats carrying as many as 100 people fleeing ongoing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State were reported as being adrift in the Naf river, between the two countries. The men, women and children were in urgent need of water, food and medical care.

A United Nations (UN) team who visited the area affected on 13 and 14 June reported seeing smouldering villages and fear the displacement of local people could be considerable.

The team of UN representatives in Myanmar, including the Refugee Agency, joined the Myanmar Minister of Border Affairs on a visit to the areas affected by the recent riots.

The Refugee Agency recognizes that Bangladesh had been hosting refugees from Myanmar for a long time and hoped that the country would continue to offer support to the fleeing Rohinga people.

While the situation in the country was still tense, Mahecic said it was encouraging that the Government of Myanmar had issued statements calling for calm and restraint, and the Agency hopes that, with the restoration of law and order, UN staff could soon be redeployed in the country. Staffs were withdrawn on 10 June as a precautionary measure.