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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| SA province seeks disaster status | SA province seeks disaster status |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South Africa's Western Cape is to ask for parts of the province to be declared a disaster zone in the wake of recent anti-foreigner violence. | South Africa's Western Cape is to ask for parts of the province to be declared a disaster zone in the wake of recent anti-foreigner violence. |
| The provincial government also asked for UN help in dealing with the crisis. | The provincial government also asked for UN help in dealing with the crisis. |
| Attacks against foreigners in South Africa began earlier this month, leaving tens of thousands displaced and seeking refuge across the country. | Attacks against foreigners in South Africa began earlier this month, leaving tens of thousands displaced and seeking refuge across the country. |
| The government said it was working to provide shelters of a limited size, to lessen health and security risks. | The government said it was working to provide shelters of a limited size, to lessen health and security risks. |
| "We should try and avoid setting up large camps that consist of shelters (for) thousands of people," said government spokesman Themba Maseko. | "We should try and avoid setting up large camps that consist of shelters (for) thousands of people," said government spokesman Themba Maseko. |
| Aid agencies are also pushing for a disaster zone to be declared around Johannesburg in Gauteng province, where the anti-foreigner attacks began. | Aid agencies are also pushing for a disaster zone to be declared around Johannesburg in Gauteng province, where the anti-foreigner attacks began. |
| Most of the immigrants are still sheltering in community halls, churches and police stations and some are sleeping out in the open. | Most of the immigrants are still sheltering in community halls, churches and police stations and some are sleeping out in the open. |
| In Gauteng, police clashed with mainly Somali migrants as they fought with other foreigners in a relief camp near the capital, Pretoria. | In Gauteng, police clashed with mainly Somali migrants as they fought with other foreigners in a relief camp near the capital, Pretoria. |
| The migrants blocked and attacked other foreigners trying to make their way from a makeshift camp to a new, tented camp, the Pretoria News reported. | The migrants blocked and attacked other foreigners trying to make their way from a makeshift camp to a new, tented camp, the Pretoria News reported. |
| The police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd in the camp after stones were thrown at a police vehicle. | The police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd in the camp after stones were thrown at a police vehicle. |
| A police spokesman told the BBC one officer was injured. | A police spokesman told the BBC one officer was injured. |
| Beach camps | Beach camps |
| In the Western Cape, where the some 20,000 are estimated to have fled their homes, Premier Ebrahim Rasool said the provincial government was negotiating with the UN to get resources for displaced people. | In the Western Cape, where the some 20,000 are estimated to have fled their homes, Premier Ebrahim Rasool said the provincial government was negotiating with the UN to get resources for displaced people. |
| He said the province wanted "decentralised, community-based" accommodation for migrants to replace beach camps. | He said the province wanted "decentralised, community-based" accommodation for migrants to replace beach camps. |
| RED CROSS DISPLACED South Africa: about 51,000 Gauteng: 28,000 Western Cape: 20,000 KwaZulu Natal: 2,500 Mozambique: 32,082 Malawi: 480 Zimbabwe: 123 In pictures: Displaced life in SA | RED CROSS DISPLACED South Africa: about 51,000 Gauteng: 28,000 Western Cape: 20,000 KwaZulu Natal: 2,500 Mozambique: 32,082 Malawi: 480 Zimbabwe: 123 In pictures: Displaced life in SA |
| Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille said that declaring parts of the province a disaster zone would free up resources and allow the local government to co-ordinate relief. | Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille said that declaring parts of the province a disaster zone would free up resources and allow the local government to co-ordinate relief. |
| The mayor's spokesman, Robert Macdonald, told the BBC about 20,000 people had been displaced in the city. | |
| The UN has said it is already helping South Africa plan relief efforts, conducting surveys of the conditions in the police stations and municipal halls in which the displaced people are living. | The UN has said it is already helping South Africa plan relief efforts, conducting surveys of the conditions in the police stations and municipal halls in which the displaced people are living. |
| Meanwhile, foreigners are continuing to flee the country. | Meanwhile, foreigners are continuing to flee the country. |
| Kenya was to repatriate 64 of its citizens on Thursday, while the Zimbabwe embassy is helping 700 of its citizens who have asked to go home. | Kenya was to repatriate 64 of its citizens on Thursday, while the Zimbabwe embassy is helping 700 of its citizens who have asked to go home. |
| Others have fled South Africa to countries including Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana. | Others have fled South Africa to countries including Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana. |
| 'Deprivation' | 'Deprivation' |
| The unrest, targeting migrants from Zimbabwe and other African countries, began in a township north of Johannesburg earlier this month. | The unrest, targeting migrants from Zimbabwe and other African countries, began in a township north of Johannesburg earlier this month. |
| More than 50 people have been killed and more than 650 injured in the attacks, according to officials. | More than 50 people have been killed and more than 650 injured in the attacks, according to officials. |
| Aid agencies say the number of displaced people is at least 80,000. | Aid agencies say the number of displaced people is at least 80,000. |
| Resentment against foreigners who are seen to be harder working and better educated than locals have been cited as factors fuelling the violence, as has social inequality. | Resentment against foreigners who are seen to be harder working and better educated than locals have been cited as factors fuelling the violence, as has social inequality. |
| In a statement on Thursday the government acknowledged "the urgent need to accelerate its programmes for alleviating poverty, unemployment and other forms of socio-economic deprivation". | In a statement on Thursday the government acknowledged "the urgent need to accelerate its programmes for alleviating poverty, unemployment and other forms of socio-economic deprivation". |
| It also appealed to communities "to reject any agitation from those who wish to reduce this country into a lawless country". | It also appealed to communities "to reject any agitation from those who wish to reduce this country into a lawless country". |
| The government has come under considerable pressure to organise better accommodation than the initial, makeshift camps. | The government has come under considerable pressure to organise better accommodation than the initial, makeshift camps. |
| Aid agencies have warned of deteriorating conditions in the camps, where foreigners have been exposed to cold and disease. | Aid agencies have warned of deteriorating conditions in the camps, where foreigners have been exposed to cold and disease. |
| Correspondents say the government has made it clear that any option which isolates rather than integrates foreigners into the community would be contrary to its policy. | Correspondents say the government has made it clear that any option which isolates rather than integrates foreigners into the community would be contrary to its policy. |
| It has said that temporary shelters would ensure displaced people had access to health services, food and sanitation. | It has said that temporary shelters would ensure displaced people had access to health services, food and sanitation. |
| The government has denied reports that it wanted to set up massive migrant or refugee camps for victims of the recent attacks. | The government has denied reports that it wanted to set up massive migrant or refugee camps for victims of the recent attacks. |
| Aid agencies had said the government would reveal plans to set up seven camps for up to 70,000 people. | Aid agencies had said the government would reveal plans to set up seven camps for up to 70,000 people. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Migrants describe conditions inside one of the shelters | Migrants describe conditions inside one of the shelters |
| 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. |