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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: AFRICA WORLD REFUGEE DAY
HEADLINE: World Refugee Day: Is neglect the new normal?
TEASER: As a top humanitarian says neglect is the new normal for refugee crises, VOA speaks with aid workers about what they see on the ground
PUBLISHED AT: 6/18/24
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London, UK
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Wilkins
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Sonya Laurence Green
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Agencies
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:24
VID APPROVED BY: sb
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:))
[[EDS: June 20th is World Refugee Day.]]
((INTRO)) Aid groups say crises in Sudan, Somalia, the Sahel, and other places are receiving a lot less funding that they need to handle the challenges they face. Earlier this month, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council's (NRC) said "the utter neglect of displaced people has become the new normal." Henry Wilkins reports on what refugees and non-profit groups think about current funding levels.
((VIDEO-AGENCIES: AREIAL FOOTAGE OF REFUGEE CAMPS - various, REFUGEE CAMPS - various, EGELAND - various, BURKINA FASO REFUGEES - various, PESSAKO LEAD IN))
((NARRATOR))
The U.N. says about 120 million people were forcibly displaced in 2023, making it the twelfth straight year that the number has risen.
https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends-report-2023
This month Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council or NRC, said "The utter neglect of displaced people has become the new normal."
The NRC says Burkina Faso has more than two million displaced people, making it one of the most neglected displacement crises in the world.
https://www.nrc.no/news/2024/june/once-again-burkina-faso-is-the-worlds-most-neglected-crisis/
Fatoumata Pessako – a mother of nine – fled northern Burkina Faso five years ago and says support has diminished since then.
((For radio: She says she was officially registered as a refugee with the government but did not receive any support from them. Nonprofits used to come and offer support, but this now happens less frequently. They only come occasionally, she says.))
((Fatoumata Pessako, Displaced Person (in Moore, 16 secs)))
“In the past, we were registered by the government, but we received no support from them. A few charitable organizations helped us, but their support has diminished significantly, and now they come only occasionally.”
((VIDEO-AGENCIES: DONNELY LEAD IN))
((NARRATOR))
One senior humanitarian told VOA that the sheer number of global crises are sapping the political will to solve them.
((For radio: Ciaran Donnelly is a senior vice president at the International Rescue Committee.))
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Ciaran Donnelly, International Rescue Committee (in English, 14 secs))
“While it’s true that funding for humanitarian work has increased over the years, it’s also true that the number of the people in need of humanitarian assistance has grown significantly faster than the sector’s ability to reach them.”
((VIDEO-AGENCIES: PESSAKO - various))
((NARRATOR))
Situations like Pessako’s are especially worrying, says Ciaran Donnelly.
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Ciaran Donnelly, International Rescue Committee (in English, 11 secs)))
“These people are stuck. They’re effectively warehoused, which is an awful term to use when talking about people. That’s one area where we just don’t see any real investment in finding solutions.”
((VIDEO-AGENCIES: CARTER LEAD IN))
((NARRATOR))
Will Carter is the Sudan country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council.
((MANDATORY COURTESY: ZOOM))
((Will Carter, Norwegian Refugee Council (in English, 20 secs)))
“Never have I known such a miserly funding environment, which has led to pretty awful service coverage for people who are starving. Never have I seen such a level of diplomatic and to an extent media neglect, over some horrendous crises.”
((VIDEO-AGENCIES: PESSAKO - various))
((NARRATOR))
Pessako says she understands the funding problems and prays for the conflict to end.
((For radio: She says the international community remains concerned about our situation, despite Burkina Faso’s conflict dragging on and that it’s difficult for them to continue. She says she prays the conflict will end soon and she can return to her village.))
((Fatoumata Pessako, Displaced Person (in Moore, 12 secs)))
The international community remains concerned about our situation, and while [Burkina Faso’s] conflict continues, I understand it is not easy for them either. I pray for the conflict to end so that I can return to my village.
((VIDEO-AGENCIES: PESSAKO - various, BURKINA FASO REFUGEE SITE DRONE SHOT))
((NARRATOR))
Like millions of other refugees, all she wants to do is return home.
((Henry Wilkins, VOA News))
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