A Rohingya migrant's story

A Rohingya migrant's story
(Level: intermediate / B1 to B2 / **)

Map credit: www.worldatlas.com

Rohingya boat migrants swimming for food
after supplies were dropped to them.
Photo credit: www.bbc.com

Before watching / listening:

Hundreds of Rohingya migrants (*) from Myanmar were rescued last week. Among them was a 21-year-old refugee who had to flee her country after her village was burned down and her husband was shot dead in front of her and their son.

She told the BBC the story of her four-month journey at sea.  

(*) But who are the Rohingyas?

Here is a short film by the BBC about the Rohingyas and the Rohingya migrant crisis.

You can also watch the film on the BBC website by clicking HERE

While watching / listening:

You are now going to listen to Kasuma telling her story

The following words could be useful:

to be crammed: to be forced into a place that is too small      être entassé  

to run out: to be used up        s'épuiser   

the propeller: a device using blades rotating from a central hub to produce thrust to propel a boat e.g.       hélice 

the (people) smuggler: someone who illegally transports people from one country to another   passeur 

to drown: to die by suffocating in water        se noyer   

turmoil: extreme confusion / tumult  / chaos      troubles  / chaos               

drenched: wet through and through / soaked      trempé 

Answer the following question: 

What was Kasuma's journey at sea like? 

You can also watch the video on the BBC website by clicking HERE

If you are interested, you can also watch this BBC report focusing on the appalling and inhumane treatment of Rohingyas left stranded on a boat at sea.  Click HERE

When you are finished, you can check your answers:

Elle et son fils se sont retrouvés parmi les 400 passagers entassés sur un bateau.

Les réserves en eau et nourriture se sont très vite épuisées.

Le bateau a été réduit à l'état d'épave à la dérive (hélice cassée; plus de carburant pour le moteur; abandon des passagers en pleine mer par les passeurs...).

A l'approche d'un navire, des passagers se sont jetés à l'eau pour aller demander de l'aide mais certains y ont laissé la vie...

Beaucoup d'enfants (entre autres) sont morts sur le bateau; Kasuma craignait pour la vie de son fils.

Aucun pays ne voulait d'eux; ils n'étaient pas autorisés à accoster même lorsque leur bateau prenait l'eau.

Ils étaient exposés aux éléments (ils étaient trempés en cas de pluie ou rôtissaient au soleil).

...