SBS launches online doco on Syria
SBS has launched an online documentary on the world’s second largest refugee camp, Za’atari.
- Published by David Knox
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SBS has launched Exit Syria: Diaries from Za’atari, an online documentary by acclaimed director Sherine Salama.
The documentary will offer a unique immersive experience into the heart of the world’s second largest refugee camp, Za’atari, which is currently at crisis point.
Since erupting two years ago, the war in Syria has claimed some 100,000 lives and caused an exodus to a scale not seen in decades. Millions of Syrians have been displaced, pouring into neighbouring countries to live in makeshift camps under extremely harsh conditions. It has been described as one of the worst humanitarian disasters of our time – the greatest refugee crisis since World War II.
Za’atari is a rough, dusty and barren refugee camp located in Jordan close to the Syrian border, and is fast growing into a metropolis – now accommodating around 120,000 people. This interactive documentary gains unprecedented access and takes viewers on an immersive journey right into the heart of the camp.
The Australian Federal Government has recently announced that it will resettle 500 Syrian refugees as part of its humanitarian refugee program.
SBS Chief Digital Officer, Marshall Heald, said:
“Exit Syria: Diaries from Za’atari is another great example of SBS’s ongoing commitment to exploring new forms of storytelling using the unique attributes of the Internet. Its core concept of being a real-time daily diary using a range of multi-media formats couldn’t be produced for television and is a sign of our continuing commitment to find innovative new ways to give Australian audiences deeper insights into important global and local issues.
“It’s especially timely for SBS to be providing Australian audiences with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves real-time in the daily lives of inhabitants of one of the harshest places in the world, to foster greater understanding of the issues and challenges they face.”
Over a month the documentary will follow three ordinary yet remarkable refugees, highlighting their resourcefulness, ingenuity and extraordinary resilience in the most astonishing circumstances.
Amira whose name has been changed for safety reasons is a 32 year old divorcee who is eight months pregnant and likely to give birth in the camp. Jum’a is a young family man and Syrian rebel who wants to go back across the border to continue fighting with the Free Syrian Army. Khaled is a 13 year-old boy who lives in Za’atari with his mum and older brother. Khaled helps smuggle stolen UNHCR goods out of the camp for extra money, a process called ‘tahrib’ which is illegal, but the police turn a blind eye.
Film maker Sherine Salama has embedded herself in the camp and will be bringing these incredible stories to the SBS website daily, relaying video material, photo galleries, audio and blog entries – all in real time.