FRANCE: THE 908 KURDS FROM THE GROUNDED BOAT THE EASTSEA ARE BUSED TO BOULOURIS FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION

Record ID: 646946

  • Title: FRANCE: THE 908 KURDS FROM THE GROUNDED BOAT THE EASTSEA ARE BUSED TO BOULOURIS FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION
  • Date: 19th February 2001
  • Summary: FREJUS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 17, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV BUS ARRIVING WITH REFUGEES; REFUGEES GETTING OUT OF BUS; REFUGEES OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY CAMP; SCU MAN PLACING SICK CHILD ON STRETCHER; MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND MAN LOOKING AT CHILD; REFUGEES COMING INTO CAMP (15 SHOTS) 1.35 2. (SOUNDBITE) (FRENCH) DANIEL CANEPA, HEAD OF THE VAR POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAYING "Normally they should be spending the night in a place which is currently being set up for them. I hope that at 2100 this place will be ready, but if it is not adequately prepared in time they will remain here at the 21st division". 1.58 3. CUTAWAY REPORTERS 2.02 4. (SOUNDBITE) (FRENCH) DANIEL CANEPA SAYING "Their objective was not necessarily to come to France (Question: Where did they want to go?) They wanted to come to Europe, to Germany, to Italy...to a European country". 2.15 5. MV SICK REFUGEES WALKING WITH RED CROSS AID WORKERS (2 SHOTS) 2.27 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FREJUS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA5YBJQUUMVO4D4S54HXUSRH1H5
  • Story Text: The 908 Kurds whose boat the Eastsea washed up on the
    shores of the Mediterranean resort of Boulouris early on
    Saturday (February 17) morning were bused into Frejus where
    Red Cross workers at a military barracks were taking care of
    those with minor problems. Another 14 of the more seriously
    dehydrated and undernourished were taken to a hospital.

    Fourteen of the would-be immigrants who were
    particularly dehydrated and undernourished were taken to
    hospital. They included three infants born on board the ship.

    The prefecture of Toulon has said that all the babies are in
    satisfactory condition. The rest of the Kurds, thought to be
    of Iraqi nationality, were taken to military barracks in
    Frejus.

    The refugees at the military barracks are scheduled to be
    moved later Saturday evening. Daniel Canepa, the head of
    police for the department of the Var where the boat grounded,
    told Reuters that a place was being set up to care for the
    Kurds but that if it was not ready by nightfall they would
    spend the night at the 21st division.

    He said he understood the refugees had not necessarily
    been trying to get to France, but that their destination was
    Europe generally.

    Meanwhile, the Toulon police department has begun a massive
    hunt for the captain and crew of the ship believed to have
    deserted shortly after grounding the vessel.

    French President Jacques Chirac has said he is scandalized
    by the unprecedented event in France which once again
    underlines the absence of scruples of those who traffic in
    human misery.

    The Kurds will be interviewed by police on
    Sunday(February 18) in order to begin asylum procedures. Those
    who do not wish to remain in France will be sent back to their
    point of departure, believed to have been somewhere in Greece.


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