Afghan refugees return home from Germany

Описание: (17 Aug 2002)

1. Wide shot Kabul
2. Mid shot Kabul
3. Former refugee in Germany, Ahmad Stanikzai, walking into house in Kabul
4. Stanikzai talking to one of his children
5. STILL photo of family
6. Various of Stanikzai sitting with his children at home
7. SOUNDBITE: (German) Ahmad Stanikzai, Recently returned Afghan refugee:
"To be happy, one has to feel respected. Otherwise, life can't be called a happy life - no matter how good living conditions are. I was born here in Afghanistan. At one point I just realized that it is here where I belong. I love it very much - being here, in my place, again."
8. Various Stanikzai with his children
9. SOUNDBITE: (German) Hurian Stanikzai, Daughter of Ahmad Stanikzai:
"In Germany, there are many wonderful things. Life is good there. Here things are not at all as good as I am used to. Still, I feel happy - this is my home."
10. Wide shot Afghans getting off Ariana Afghan airlines plane at Kabul airport
11. Various of people getting off plane
12. Close shot AGEF sign, pull out to representative meeting returning refugees at the airport
13. Various of people queuing to get AGEF employment forms
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Abdullah Saleh, Former refugee:
"I became hopeful about the future of Afghanistan. As for the situation in Afghanistan, I feel it is peace and security. Therefore, when I asked myself, I realized that I will be safe back home and so will be my family. So, I returned."
15. Various of re-training classes for returning refugees
16. Set-up shot of Paul-Pieter Oosterbeek, Head of AGEF Afghanistan mission
17. SOUNDBITE: (German) Paul-Pieter Oosterbeek, Head of AGEF Afghanistan mission:
"If you look at the situation in Kabul, you will find a lot of similarities with Berlin the way it was in 1945. Germans have a strong sense of solidarity with Afghans. AGEF is a German programme and it is a programme to help Afghans to get get back on their feet again."
18. Pan of people outside the AGEF office
19. Mid shot man

STORYLINE:

Since the Taliban was ousted from power in Afghanistan last year, over 1.3 (m) million refugees that left during 23 years of fighting have returned to their war-torn country, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

While most refugees are returning from neighbouring Pakistan and Iran, several hundred thousands, mostly those educated and with a hope of finding a job, went to Europe.

In Germany alone, there are an estimated 90-thousand Afghans living.

Just two months ago, Ahmad Stanikzai, was one of them. Stanikzai and his family left Kabul 6-years-ago when fighting between various Afghan factions for control of the Afghan capital was at its peak.

Running from daily artillery barrages and struggling to feed his family, Stanikzai, his wife and their 4-year-old daughter Hurian settled in Munich. They were given temporary refugee status and over six years, Stanikzai and his wife had three more children - two sons and another daughter while Hurian, the eldest daughter went to study in the German school. When Ahmad found out last year that the Taliban regime had fallen in Kabul and many Afghan emigrants were returning home, he says he knew it was time for him to pack as well.

Stanikzai says he feels grateful to Germans for sheltering his family in difficult times, but admits that he never truly adjusted to living in Munich. A skilled accountant with a university degree, he worked as a street cleaner and waiter in Munich. Now that he is back in Kabul, Ahmad says he is certain things will be brighter for him and his family.











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