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Transcript/ScriptETHIOPIA DISPLACED AID SHORTAGE (TV)
HEADLINE: Ethiopia’s Struggling IDPs Face Dilemma: Stay or Return Home?
TEASER: Lack of food and shelter in Ethiopia’s IDP camps prompts some to return home, despite risk
PUBLISHED AT: 06/23/2022 at 642p
BYLINE: HALIMA ATHUMANI
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Semera, Ethiopia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Yidnkeachew Lemma
VIDEO EDITOR: Yidnkeachew Lemma
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Schearf, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO x__
TRT: 2:35
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO)) Internally displaced persons in northern Ethiopia’s Afar region have been leaving some camps due to lack of food and shelter. The U.N. has warned that returning home may not prove any better and are calling for more international support. Halima Athumani reports from Semera, Ethiopia.
((VIDEO-VOA: FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINT, WOMEN WAITING, MYRA))
((NARRATOR))
Afar region officials say this camp in Dupti, northern Ethiopia, houses about 30,000 internally displaced persons.
Many were forced to flee fighting between Tigray regional forces and federal troops and their allies.
Others fled record drought that has killed millions of livestock and left millions of Ethiopians facing hunger.
Myra Muhammed is a mother of three who in January walked for days and 400 kilometers to reach the camp only to find it overcrowded and without enough food or shelter.
((Myra Muhammed, Displaced Mother of Three (Afar, 35 secs))
“I don’t know what’s better for us. Because, even if I return home, no one will support me. We don’t get sufficient support here. I don’t know what’s better for us. I feel more stressed, and I’m worried about returning.”
((VIDEO-VOA: DUBTI IDP SITE, IDRIS COUNTING FOOD BAGS, IDRIS))
((NARRATOR))
Myra is not alone.
In June alone, Afar disaster officials say at least 8,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned home because of shortages and the closure of one camp.
The U.N.’s refugee agency says since March, 12,000 IDPs in the region returned home.
((Idris Muhammad Abdullah, IDP Leader (Afar, 23 secs))
“There’s lack of resources, sometimes it comes in bits. Sometimes we distribute to 300, 400 or 500 households. So, it causes conflict for those who don’t receive.”
((VIDEO-VOA: IDPS, SAAD))
((NARRATOR))
Russia’s war on Ukraine has taken global attention and driven up the cost of food aid.
The U.N.’s humanitarian affairs office in Ethiopia says they need $3 billion to meet IDP needs and those who return home may be worse off.
((Michel Saad, UN Office For The Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs))(English, 14 secs))
“Because if they return somewhere where there’s no health center, there are no schools, no access to water, water is not running. No electricity, no banking system, no telecommunication. I mean, obviously the situation is remaining very difficult.”
((VIDEO-VOA: FOOD DISTRIBUTION, IDP’S IN HOUSE, ASIA HUSSEIN))
((NARRATOR))
Meanwhile, IDPs in the camps wait in the scorching heat for help - rationed first to the most vulnerable.
Mother of six Asia Hussein is among the lucky ones getting food today.
((Asia Hussein, Displaced Mother (Afar, 12 secs))
“I have six children. And to be honest, this food is not enough. But what shall we do?”
((VIDEO-VOA: IDPS))
((NARRATOR))
Ethiopians displaced by war and drought with no good options.
((Halima Athumani, for VOA News, Semera, Ethiopia.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Semera, Ethiopia
Embargo DateJune 23, 2022 19:17 EDT
Byline((Halima Athumani, for VOA News, Semera, Ethiopia.))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
