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| S Africa to set up refugee camps | S Africa to set up refugee camps |
| (10 minutes 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 refugee 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 holding 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 government decision comes despite strong advice from respected international aid agencies. |
| They say South Africa does not have the | |
| expertise necessary to run the camps. | |
| Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), the medical charity, says conditions for people seeking refuge in the existing shelters are worsening. | Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), the medical charity, says conditions for people seeking refuge in the existing shelters are worsening. |
| Little experience | Little experience |
| Aid agencies say the true number of displaced people is at least 80,000. | Aid agencies say the true number of displaced people is at least 80,000. |
| 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 promise | 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 promise |
| 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. |
| 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 | Deplorable conditions |
| Fifty-six people have been killed and more than 650 injured in the attacks, according to officials. | Fifty-six people have been killed and more than 650 injured in the attacks, according to officials. |
| None of the sites provide enough latrines, enough toilets, enough showers, enough access to water Muriel CornelisMSF South Africa programme | 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. | 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". | 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. | "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." | "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". | 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. | 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 acts 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 acts 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 | Political domination |
| Academic studies have long shown South Africans to be among the most intolerant people in the world, our Africa editor reports. | Academic studies have long shown South Africans to be among the most intolerant people in the world, our Africa editor reports. |
| Camps have been set up around the country to cater for the displaced | Camps have been set up around the country to cater for the displaced |
| The feeling that foreigners are harder working and better educated than locals may have bred resentment, he says. | The feeling that foreigners are harder working and better educated than locals may have bred resentment, he says. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | The Red Cross said on Tuesday that 27,000 had fled to Mozambique alone. |
| Have you been displaced by the unrest in South Africa? Where are you living? Let us know your experiences using the form below. | |
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