6 Nov 2012

JORDAN / SYRIAN REFUGEES

As winter approaches, UNICEF is accelerating plans for special reinforced tents, heaters, and hot showers, as well as blankets and warm clothes for young children in Jordan's Zaatari camp, where 30,000 Syrian refugees are sheltering. UNICEF

Posted at: November 6, 2012 5:50 pm

Duration: 02:53

Available in: SD

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STORY: JORDAN / SYRIAN REFUGEES
TRT:  2.53
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: OCTOBER 2012, ZA'ATARI REFUGEE CAMP, JORDAN

SHOTLIST:

1.	Close up, baby 
2.	Wide shot, refugee camp
3.	Various shots, family in camp
4.	SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatma, Syrian Refugee Mother:
"I thought now that if we leave Syria I will at least be able to live without thinking about the horror and fear that we went through every day, morning, afternoon and evening at home. We could never predict when the shelling would start. I thought to myself, if we leave I will finally be able to relax."
5.	Various shots, family in camp
6.	SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Moncef, Syrian Refugee Father:
"I find myself in a daze for about half an hour every day thinking about home with the one constant thought in my head of wanting to go back."
7.	Various shots, camp
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Dominique Hyde, UNICEF Representative in Jordan:
"You know the challenges in this camp are daunting. As a mother I can't imagine what it would be like to give birth in a place like this. UNICEF is providing essential vaccines, we're providing infant feeding and support for the mothers. But the emergency is far from over."
9.	Various shots, refugee camp school
10.	Various shots, Mohammed playing in child friendly space
11.	SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed, Syrian Refugee Child:
"When I go back to Syria I will go to check on my home then I will go to see my grandmother Sua'ad and grandmother Hamda who was injured after the two rockets destroyed her kitchen."
12.	Various shots, camp

STORYLINE:

The Za'atari refugee camp in northern Jordan was the birthplace for this baby boy. The son of Syrian refugees, he is just eight weeks old and for now, this is his home.

His mother Fatma was nine months pregnant when she and husband Moncef decided to flee Southern Syria for the safety of Jordan with their six children.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatma, Syrian Refugee Mother:
"I thought now that if we leave Syria I will at least be able to live without thinking about the horror and fear that we went through every day, morning, afternoon and evening at home. We could never predict when the shelling would start. I thought to myself, if we leave I will finally be able to relax."

Just nine days after arriving at Za'atari, Fatma gave birth in one of the camp clinics. As a sign of how uncertain the family feels about their future, the boy is still without a name.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Moncef, Syrian Refugee Father:
"I find myself in a daze for about half an hour everyday thinking about home with the one constant thought in my head of wanting to go back."

In the weeks ahead the boy's weight and growth will be monitored closely by UNICEF teams for any signs of malnutrition.

SOUNDBITE (English) Dominique Hyde, UNICEF Representative in Jordan:
"You know the challenges in this camp are daunting. As a mother I can't imagine what it would be like to give birth in a place like this. UNICEF is providing essential vaccines, we're providing infant feeding and support for the mothers. But the emergency is far from over."

For the family's school-aged children, returning to class at the new camp school is making a huge difference.

13 year old Noor loves mathematics. It has been nearly two years since she last attended class.

For her younger brother Mohammed, playing with friends in the Child Friendly Space near the family's tent is where he can just be himself. He says the world is filled with laughter when he plays.

Mohammed dreams of the day he can return home and see his friends, but especially both of his grandmothers.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed, Syrian Refugee Child:
"When I go back to Syria I will go to check on my home then I will go to see my grandmother Sua'ad and grandmother Hamda who was injured after the two rockets destroyed her kitchen."

Nearly 30-thousand Syrians are living in the Za'atari refugee camp and hundreds of refugees arrive each day.

And the approaching winter is a huge concern for everyone.

UNICEF is accelerating plans to prepare special reinforced tents for winter and install heaters, covered kitchens and hot showers in the camp.

UNICEF will also provide blankets and warm clothes to young children, a crucial measure to help the youngest and most vulnerable cope with the bitter months of winter that lie ahead.