1.
GV PAN BEDOUINS AT FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINT IN DESERT (3 SHOTS)
0.16

2.
SV BEDOUINS ARRIVE ON CAMELS (2 SHOTS)
0.24

3.
SV BEDOUINS GATHER AROUND ISRAELI OFFICIAL HANDING OUT RATION AND IDENTITY CARDS (2 SHOTS)
0.34

4.
SV BEDOUIN RECEIVING GRAIN
0.38

5.
SV BEDOUIN RECEIVING OIL (2 SHOTS)
0.50

6.
SV BEDOUINS LOOK ON
0.54

7.
CU ISRAELI OFFICIAL TALKING TO GROUP OF BEDOUINS (2 SHOTS)
1.02

8.
SV ANOTHER OFFICIAL SEATED AT TABLE
1.05

9.
LV BEDOUINS AROUND OFFICIAL AND RECEIVING EGG RATION(6 SHOTS)
1.31

10.
SV BEDOUIN LEAVES WITH SUPPLIES
1.39

11.
LV DITTO WITH SUPPLIES
1.42

12.
MV CAMEL GETS UP AND MOVES OFF
1.49

13.
SV BEDOUINS LOAD DONKEYS WITH SUPPLIES(2 SHOTS)
2.00



Initials OS/053



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MORE THAN 23,000 NORTHERN SINAI BEDOUINS MOUNT CAMELS TO CALL IN AT THE ISRAELI-RUN DISTRIBUTION POINTS AND PICK UP THEIR MONTHLY FOOD ISSUES.

THE ISRAELI MILITARY GOVERNMENT PROVIDES 8 KILOGRAMS OF FOOD PER HEAD WHICH IS LOADED ONTO CAMELS AND DONKEYS.

SINCE THE DEBOUIN -- MOSTLY NOMADIC TRIBESMEN -- ARE NOT REFUGEES, THEY ARE NOT CARED FOR BY ANY UNITED NATIONS AGENCY. ISRAELI OFFICIALS PROVIDE SIMILAR SUPPLIES FOR ANOTHER 30,000 BEDOUINS IN THE SOUTH OF THE SINAI PENINSULA.

SYNOPSIS: EVERY MONTH MORE THAN 23,000 BEDOUINS WHO ROAM THE NORTHERN SINAI DESERT MAKE SURE THEY CALL IN FOR FOOD AT ONE OF THE ISRAELI RUN DISTRIBUTION CENTRES. THEIR ANNUAL WANDERING CYCLE - DETERMINED BY THE GRAZING NEEDS OF THEIR HERDS OR FLOCKS - IS NOW BEING ADAPTED TO THE NEED FOR PROVISIONS - AND THEY TURN THEIR CAMELS TOWARDS THE SUPPLY HUTS.

THIS BREAK IN THE ROMANCE OF THE NOMADIC LIFE MEANS GETTING THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS - IN THIS CASE, RATION AND IDENTITY CARDS FROM ISRAELI OFFICIALS.

THE ISRAELI MILITARY GOVERNMENT PROVIDES 8 KILOGRAMS OF FOOD FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD. THIS CONSISTS OF 6 KILOGRAMS OF FLOWER, ONE KILO EACH OF SEMOLINA AND SOYA OIL - WITH A BAR OF SOAP INCLUDED.

SINCE WORLD WAR I THE BEDOUIN TRIBES HAVE HAD TO SUBMIT TO THE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENTS CONTROLLING THE AREAS WHERE THEY MOVED. INTERNAL FEUDING AND RAIDING OF VILLAGES WERE REPLACED BY MORE PEACEFUL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.

DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, THE BEDOUINS -- WHO TRADITIONALLY DESPISE AGRICULTURAL WORK - RECEIVED FARM SURPLUS GOODS FROM ISRAEL, BE IT FRUIT, VEGETABLES, OR LIKE TODAY, FRESH EGGS. WITH FORMALITIES OVER, THE BEDOUINS SET OFF AGAIN TO MEANDER AROUND THE VAST DESERT. THEY CONSTITUTE ABOUT ONE TENTH OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THE MIDDLE EAST - BUT THEY INHABIT OR UTILIZE ALMOST NINE-TENTHS OF ITS LAND AREA.

THEY LOAD UP THEIR PROVISIONS AND TURN TOWARDS THE RIVES, SPRINGS AND WELLS NEAR WHICH THEY PITCH THEIR GOATS HAIR TENTS DURING THE DRY SUMMER MONTHS. MEANWHILE IN THE SOUTH OF THE GIANT SINAI PENINSULA 30.000 OTHER BEDOUINS ARE DOING THE SAME THING.