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S Africa to set up refugee camps S Africa to set up migrant camps
(about 1 hour later)
South Africa is to set up seven refugee camps around the country for foreign migrant workers who have fled a recent wave of anti-immigrant violence. South Africa is to set up seven camps around the country for foreign migrant workers who have fled a recent wave of anti-immigrant violence.
The holding camps will take up to 70,000 people from the increasingly unsanitary conditions at temporary shelters put up around state buildings. The seven new camps will take up to 70,000 people from the increasingly unsanitary conditions at temporary shelters put up around state buildings.
The government decision comes despite strong advice from respected international aid agencies. The decision comes despite aid agency advice that South Africa lacks the expertise necessary to run the camps.
They say South Africa does not have the expertise necessary to run the camps. Meanwhile, the UN said it is helping South Africa plan relief efforts.
Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), the medical charity, says conditions for people seeking refuge in the existing shelters are worsening. 'Very cold'
Meanwhile, Nigeria says it will press for compensation from the South African government for its citizens who were victims of the violence. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) has warned that those sheltering in makeshift camps or outdoors have been left without protection - either physical or legal.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe told AFP news agency that no Nigerian was killed in the attacks, but many have lost their properties and others have had their shops looted. "It's very cold at night, it's almost like one or two degrees. It's been raining in the last few days," said MSF South Africa programme director Muriel Cornelis.
Little experience "And then legal protection - most of them do not have any status, no legal status, no temporary status."
Aid agencies say the true number of displaced people is at least 80,000.
RED CROSS DISPLACED South Africa: about 51,000 Gauteng: 28,000 Western Cape: 20,000 KwaZulu Natal: 2,500 Mozambique: 27,234 Malawi: 480 Zimbabwe: 123 In pictures: Displaced life in SA
With the cabinet expected to announce its plans later on Wednesday, aid agencies fear the government has little experience of running what are likely to become semi-permanent refugee camps, says the BBC's Africa editor, Martin Plaut.With the cabinet expected to announce its plans later on Wednesday, aid agencies fear the government has little experience of running what are likely to become semi-permanent refugee camps, says the BBC's Africa editor, Martin Plaut.
Establishing such camps could come back to haunt the country for many years to come, our Africa editor adds.Establishing such camps could come back to haunt the country for many years to come, our Africa editor adds.
RED CROSS DISPLACED South Africa: about 51,000 Gauteng: 28,000 Western Cape: 20,000 KwaZulu Natal: 2,500 Mozambique: 27,234 Malawi: 480 Zimbabwe: 123 In pictures: Displaced life in SA
MSF said it was finding cases of diarrhoea and chest infections in overcrowded shelters near Johannesburg.MSF said it was finding cases of diarrhoea and chest infections in overcrowded shelters near Johannesburg.
The International Red Cross's Francoise Le Goff told the BBC it was vital the workers left these temporary shelters.The International Red Cross's Francoise Le Goff told the BBC it was vital the workers left these temporary shelters.
"We have problems with sanitation; it's cold; people are getting sick, so their security is barely there," she said."We have problems with sanitation; it's cold; people are getting sick, so their security is barely there," she said.
"People need to leave this place and have an area where they can settle a little better and where they can reorganise a better life.""People need to leave this place and have an area where they can settle a little better and where they can reorganise a better life."
Deplorable conditions The UN has been conducting a survey of conditions in existing, temporary camps in the Johannesburg, spokesman George Nsiah told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Fifty-six people have been killed and more than 650 injured in the attacks, according to officials. He said there was no danger of temporary camps becoming permanent, adding that the South African government was "doing everything possible that will enable those affected to return to their normal lives".
None of the sites provide enough latrines, enough toilets, enough showers, enough access to water Muriel CornelisMSF South Africa programme
The unrest, targeting migrants from Zimbabwe and other African countries, began near Johannesburg earlier this month.
MSF South Africa programme director Muriel Cornelis said conditions for displaced people sheltering in makeshift camps or outdoors were starting to become "deplorable".
"None of the sites provide enough latrines, enough toilets, enough showers, enough access to water," she said.
"You have some portable latrines but they're not being removed or cleaned so therefore at one point people no longer use them and they use the grass."
But Able Bapela, the head of a parliamentary task force, told the BBC's Focus on Africa that victims of violence were receiving "humanitarian sympathy and support".
Earlier, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said more than 1,300 arrests had been made and special courts had been set up to deal with the situation.
South African President Thabo Mbeki has denounced the anti-immigrant violence as the worst act of inhumanity South Africa has seen since the end of apartheid.South African President Thabo Mbeki has denounced the anti-immigrant violence as the worst act of inhumanity South Africa has seen since the end of apartheid.
But the president has been criticised for his handling of the crisis, including a response which some have seen as slow.But the president has been criticised for his handling of the crisis, including a response which some have seen as slow.
Political domination 'On the ground'
Academic studies have long shown South Africans to be among the most intolerant people in the world, our Africa editor reports. Obed Bapela, an MP for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) who is leading an investigation into the violence, told the BBC that South African leaders were tackling the crisis
The officials "are the ground talking to people, to arrest the violence so it doesn't spread any further and ensure the relief is given to those who are affected," he said.
SOUTH AFRICA Total population: 49mForeign population: 3-5mMajority from Zimbabwe, also Mozambique, NigeriaUnemployment rate: 30% How can S Africa end the violence?Tensions erupt in city of promiseSOUTH AFRICA Total population: 49mForeign population: 3-5mMajority from Zimbabwe, also Mozambique, NigeriaUnemployment rate: 30% How can S Africa end the violence?Tensions erupt in city of promise
The feeling that foreigners are harder working and better educated than locals may have bred resentment, he says. Meanwhile, Nigeria says it will press for compensation from the South African government for its citizens who were victims of the violence.
Social inequality and the political domination of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) could also have contributed to the frustrations that fuelled the recent attacks, he adds. Nigerian Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe told AFP news agency that no Nigerian was killed in the attacks, but many have lost their properties and others have had their shops looted.
The unrest, targeting migrants from Zimbabwe and other African countries, began near Johannesburg earlier this month.
Fifty-six people have been killed and more than 650 injured in the attacks, according to officials.
Aid agencies say the true number of displaced people is at least 80,000.
The troubles flared with a wave of attacks on foreigners in the township of Alexandra, within sight of some of Johannesburg's most expensive suburbs.The troubles flared with a wave of attacks on foreigners in the township of Alexandra, within sight of some of Johannesburg's most expensive suburbs.
They have since spread to seven of South Africa's nine provinces.They have since spread to seven of South Africa's nine provinces.
Many people have fled South Africa to countries including Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana.Many people have fled South Africa to countries including Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana.
The Red Cross said on Tuesday that 27,000 had fled to Mozambique alone. Resentment against foreigners who are seen to be harder working and better educated than locals have been cited a factors fuelling the violence.
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One family's view of the anti-immigrant violenceOne family's view of the anti-immigrant violence
Have you been displaced by the unrest in South Africa? If you are a South African, what do you think of the way migrants have been treated? Let us know your experiences using the form below.Have you been displaced by the unrest in South Africa? If you are a South African, what do you think of the way migrants have been treated? Let us know your experiences using the form below.
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