17 Oct 2012

LEBANON / PALESTINIAN REFUGEES

The Shatila camp for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is a harsh place to grow up, but for thousands of Palestinian refugees from Syria, displaced by violence for a second time now, this is the only shelter they can call home. UNICEF

Posted at: October 17, 2012 5:39 pm

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Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: LEBANON / PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
TRT: 2:00
SOURCE: UNICEF 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 26 SEPTEMBER 2012, SHATILA PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP / YARMOUK GIRLS SCHOOL, BEIRUT SUBURB, LEBANON

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, dilapidated buildings in Shatila Palestinian refugee camp
2. Med shot, children playing in alley in the refugee camp
3. Various shots, narrow alleys and cramped apartments at the Shatila refugee camp
4. Med shot, tilt down, buildings to children playing in the alley
5. Wide shot, Shatila camp buildings
6. Med shot, Mariam smoking a cigarette 
7. Close shot, Mariam smoking a cigarette
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mariam (not real name), Palestinian refugee from Syria in Lebanon:
"My children are very keen on education. I've managed to register them into schools but it was exhausting, I had to go from school to school and I'm not familiar with the area."
9. Med shot, Mariam's 10 year old son, Ahmed talking 
10. Med shot, speakers at the podium at Yarmouk Girls School
11. Med shot, girls in the schoolyard in lines
12. Med shot, students walking in to classrooms
13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Malak, 11 year old Yarmouk School student: 
"The kits are very important to me and to all the Palestinian students. We are three children at home and we're not able to secure any school materials."
14. Wide shot, street
15. Med shot, Ahmed (not real name) sitting on bench with other kids
16 SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed (not real name), 10-year-old Palestinian refugee from Syria:
"Here, everything is taught in English and over there (in Syria) it's in Arabic, English is a subject on its own taught separately. Here, even math is taught in English and I don't like that. I'd rather it be taught in Arabic" 
17. Med shot, Ahmed talking
18. Med shot, girls in classroom at the Yarmouk School
19. Close up, girl writing

STORYLINE:

The Shatila camp for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is a harsh place to grow up 
The conditions are appalling in these cramped quarters gripped by severe poverty
But for thousands of Palestinians refugees from Syria, displaced by violence for a second time now, this is the only shelter they can call home.

Mariam fled to Lebanon with her children, her husband is still in Syria. She has no resources but she's making the most of the worst they've had to face.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Mariam, Palestinian Refugee from Syria:

"My children are very keen on education. I've managed to register them into schools but it was exhausting, I had to go from school to school and I'm not familiar with the area."

Mariam's 10 year old son Ahmed will be taking remedial classes that will help him catch up on school

An unaffordable choice that's now made possible by UNICEF and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.

The organizations have been providing text books, stationery and setting up classes for Palestinian refugee children living in Lebanon.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Malak, Student, Yarmouth Girls School:
"The kits are very important to me and to all the Palestinian students. We are three children at home and we're not able to secure any school materials."

Back in Shatila, Ahmed is nervous about going to school …

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed, 10-year-old Palestinian refugee from Syria:
"Here, everything is taught in English and over there (in Syria) it's in Arabic, English is a subject on its own taught separately. Here, even math is taught in English and I don't like that. I'd rather it be taught in Arabic"

Adapting to a new curriculum and a new life won't be easy...and with the conflict raging in Syria, many more children are likely to join him in this difficult journey