Alhurra Darfur Documentary in Cairo Human Rights Film Festival
Alhurra Television’s original documentary, Konoungo: The Darfurian Exile has received top billing at the third Cairo Human Rights Film Festival. Alhurra’s critically acclaimed documentary Konoungo: The Darfurian Exile will air on the first screening day of the four-day Festival followed by a discussion of the documentary and the humanitarian crisis facing Darfurian refugees. Konoungo: The Darfurian Exile is one of 40 films that will be shown as part of the Festival in recognizing the promotion of human rights, women rights and freedom of expression across the Middle East and North Africa. Konoungo: The Darfurian Exile will be screened on Sunday, December 5th at 7:00 p.m. (Cairo time)
The hour-long documentary is one of the first Arabic-language programs examining the humanitarian crisis in refugee camps in Eastern Chad. Alhurra’s Mohamed Al-Yahyai traveled to the Konoungo refugee camp in Eastern Chad to present viewers with an inside look at the lives of displaced Sudanese refugees. The documentary focuses on the first person accounts of refugees, to hear their personal experiences of leaving Darfur and the difficulties living in a camp, originally set up as a temporary shelter, but a place they still call home after seven years. Many who were interviewed expressed their disbelief and anger at the lack of interest from Arab media, governments and humanitarian aid organizations; but say they still have hope for the future. Alhurra also examined the challenges facing international aid agencies assisting with the efforts to help the refugees.
The Cairo Human Rights Film Festival (CHRFF) was launched in 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The festival is organized by the American Islamic Congress, a civil rights nongovernmental organization, dedicated to promote tolerance and interfaith dialogue.
Recent surveys by international research companies such as ACNielsen show that Alhurra has consistently averaged approximately 26 million weekly viewers for the last three years. Alhurra is operated by the non-profit corporation “The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.” (MBN). MBN is financed by the U.S. Government through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency. The BBG serves oversight and as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters.
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Contact:
Chams Eddin
Communications Specialist
Alhurra TV- Radio Sawa, MBN, Inc.
Phone +1 (703) 852-9036
Mobile +1 (202) 412-2773
Fax +1 (703) 842 8825
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Springfield Virginia 22153 US