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The Fifth Floor

Factual: Life Stories

Global stories from the BBC’s 40 Language Services, with Faranak Amidi

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services.

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services

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The Fifth Floor: War and Manhood: Breaking the Silence

Documentaries

Soldiers  who have been damaged by war

12/05/2017 GMT

War and Manhood: Breaking the Silence

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, War and Manhood: Breaking the Silence

Colombia's civil conflict has claimed many casualties, but some injuries are still taboo

Colombian soldiers' hidden wounds; surviving Kabul's roads; who you calling a zucchini? Indian High Court drama; Mombasa to Nairobi train journey; Fifi Haroon.  With David Amanor.

Natalia Guerrero of BBC Mundo has tackled a taboo issue in her home country, Colombia.  Thousands of soldiers have lost limbs due to land mines during the country's 50 year conflict with rebels, but what's seldom talked about are the numbers who've experienced genital injury, or the 'silent wound'.  Natalia talks to soldiers and doctors keen to break that silence.

Driving in Kabul
BBC Afghan's Waheed Massoud describes the risks and hazards of everyday driving in Kabul, from military convoys to overzealous traffic police.  

Don't call me a Zucchini! 
Why is the Arabic word for the humble courgette or zucchini so insulting in Egypt?  BBC Arabic's Marwa Mamoon takes us back a thousand years to explain all. 

Trouble in India's courts
There's been an extraordinary story brewing at the top of India's legal system.  The man at the centre is Justice Chinnaswamy Swaminathan Karnan, and it's a tale involving allegations of corruption, discrimination, even insanity.  Following the saga closely in BBC Delhi is Geeta Panday.

Mombasa to Nairobi Railway
For over a century the Mombasa to Nairobi line has been carrying passengers from coast to capital on a gruelling 14 hour overnight trip.  Now it's being modernised, and the journey time cut.  BBC Swahili's Alex Mureithi grew up next to the tracks and looks back on some of those epic trips.

And Fifi Haroon takes a fabulous food tour of the world wide web.

Image: Soldier Stivinson Mena Rivas lost a leg, a finger and had genital injuries due to a mine.
Credit: Gregorio Mariño

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