26 Jun 2012

NIGER / MALI REFUGEES

Almost 2,600 Malians have fled their country and arrived in Aroyou, Niger. Despite their ordeal, they still took part in recent events to mark World Refugee Day. UNHCR

Posted at: June 26, 2012 4:36 pm

Duration: 01:43

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: NIGER / MALI REFUGEES
TRT: 1.43
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / ZARMA / NATS

DATELINE: 20 JUNE 2012, AYOROU, NIGER

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots, camp Tababéré  
2. Wide shot, refugees holding ¨World Refugee Day¨ placard
3. Close up, refugee kid's face
4. Wide shot, refugees gathering
5. Close up, refugee kid 
6. Wide shot, refugee boy in front of his tent
7. Med shot, woman outside her tent
8. Med shot, Aissa making bracelet in her tent with her family
9. Wide shot, Aissa's family in the tent
10. Close up, refugee kid standing
11. Various shots, Aissa's hands making bracelets
12. Close up, bracelets
13. SOUNDBITE (Zarma) Aissa Ousseini, Malian refugee:
"I did bead work in Mali. But there were troubles, so we fled, my parents and I to come to Niger. I cannot tell you what we lived through in Mali.  All I can say is that we are much safer here."
14. Wide shot, refugees with their donkey
15. Wide shot, refugees trying to get water
16. Various shots, Niger river
17. Close up, refugee girl drinking water
18. Close up, refugee girls celebrating World Refugee Day
19. Med shot, refugees dancing
20. SOUNDBITE (French) Amadou Gueye Lamine, UNHCR Niger:
"Today they have definitely felt the world's appreciation. It is a way of showing them that the world is aware of their fate and what is happening to them."
21. Various shots, refugees girls

STORYLINE:

Tababéré Camp in Niger, one of the world's newest refugee camps.

These Malian refugees have gathered despite their ordeal to celebrate World Refugee Day (20 June).

Almost 2,600 Malians have come here spontaneously and stayed. They're escaping the Tuareg rebellion of Northern Mali.

Aissa Ousseini arrived with her whole family, parents, brothers, cousins less than a month ago. She makes bracelets which she sells for a few francs, supplementing the assistance the family is getting.

SOUNDBITE (Zarma) Aissa Ousseini, Malian refugee:
"I did bead work in Mali. But there were troubles, so we fled, my parents and I to come to Niger. I cannot tell you what we lived through in Mali.  All I can say is that we are much safer here."

One of the major issues in this arid region is drinking water. The nearest is water source is nearly a hundred kilometers away.

As the numbers of people arriving goes up, sourcing more water becomes more urgent.

Still these new refugees found the optimism to celebrate on World Refugee Day.

SOUNDBITE (French) Amadou Gueye Lamine, UNHCR Niger:
"Today they have definitely felt the world's appreciation. It is a way of showing them that the world is aware of their fate and what is happening to them."

The United Nations refugee agency recently called for a massive scale-up in responding to the needs of 320,000 people who have been displaced by the current political instability and insecurity in Mali.

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