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Anger at S Africa camp closures | Anger at S Africa camp closures |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has sharply criticised the forced closure of South African migrant camps over the last two days. | |
"There is no solution for these people, they have nowhere to go," an MSF spokesman told the BBC. | |
The camps, holding 1,200 foreigners driven from their homes by May's xenophobic violence, are being shut around the city of Johannesburg. | The camps, holding 1,200 foreigners driven from their homes by May's xenophobic violence, are being shut around the city of Johannesburg. |
This is despite a ruling from the Constitutional Court to keep them open | This is despite a ruling from the Constitutional Court to keep them open |
Last month, it ruled a full hearing should decide if it was legal to shut them. | Last month, it ruled a full hearing should decide if it was legal to shut them. |
The provincial government in Gauteng argues it is now safe for the foreigners to return to their homes. | The provincial government in Gauteng argues it is now safe for the foreigners to return to their homes. |
The camps were set up following attacks in which 62 people were killed and thousands displaced. | The camps were set up following attacks in which 62 people were killed and thousands displaced. |
The camps that are being closed are those at Glenanda, on Rifle Range road, south of Johannesburg and Boksburg, east of the city and a third at Rand airport. | The camps that are being closed are those at Glenanda, on Rifle Range road, south of Johannesburg and Boksburg, east of the city and a third at Rand airport. |
According to MSF, which has been working in the camps, around 1,200 people have been forced out. | According to MSF, which has been working in the camps, around 1,200 people have been forced out. |
"We are very worried," Alexis Moens, project co-ordinator for MSF told the BBC. "When people go back to their homes they have been attacked," he said. | "We are very worried," Alexis Moens, project co-ordinator for MSF told the BBC. "When people go back to their homes they have been attacked," he said. |
Leaving 'under duress' | Leaving 'under duress' |
A spokesman for the Gauteng provincial government, Simon Zwane said, "We have closed Glenanda... everybody moved out of there." | A spokesman for the Gauteng provincial government, Simon Zwane said, "We have closed Glenanda... everybody moved out of there." |
Mr Zwane said the process of giving financial assistance to the refugees was under way. | Mr Zwane said the process of giving financial assistance to the refugees was under way. |
DISPLACED BY VIOLENCE Inside South Africa Gauteng province: 17548Western Cape: 19,654KwaZulu Natal: 1,650Total: 38,762 Outside South AfricaMozambique: 32,035Zimbabwe: 5,500D R Congo: 46Burundi: 6Total: 37,587Source: United Nations Migrants left in cold | DISPLACED BY VIOLENCE Inside South Africa Gauteng province: 17548Western Cape: 19,654KwaZulu Natal: 1,650Total: 38,762 Outside South AfricaMozambique: 32,035Zimbabwe: 5,500D R Congo: 46Burundi: 6Total: 37,587Source: United Nations Migrants left in cold |
The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (Cormsa) says the move is illegal, in terms of the Constitutional Court order. | The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (Cormsa) says the move is illegal, in terms of the Constitutional Court order. |
Duncan Breem of Cormsa said that the refugees had given sums from 500 rand ($60) donated by humanitarian organisations and some food and told to go. | Duncan Breem of Cormsa said that the refugees had given sums from 500 rand ($60) donated by humanitarian organisations and some food and told to go. |
"They took it under duress," he said. | "They took it under duress," he said. |
The violence - which caused the worst bloodshed in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994 - began in a township north of Johannesburg before spreading to other parts of the country. | The violence - which caused the worst bloodshed in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994 - began in a township north of Johannesburg before spreading to other parts of the country. |
Those attacked were blamed for fuelling high unemployment and crime. | Those attacked were blamed for fuelling high unemployment and crime. |
Twenty-one South Africans, mistaken by gangs for foreigners, were among those killed. | Twenty-one South Africans, mistaken by gangs for foreigners, were among those killed. |
The United Nations says that around 80,000 were driven from their homes during May. | The United Nations says that around 80,000 were driven from their homes during May. |
Some had returned to their countries of origin. Others sought refuge in temporary camps, which the government said have to close by 4 October. | Some had returned to their countries of origin. Others sought refuge in temporary camps, which the government said have to close by 4 October. |
But others put the numbers of those displaced much higher. | But others put the numbers of those displaced much higher. |
This is because some of the foreigners were given shelter by their neighbours and never went into the camps. | This is because some of the foreigners were given shelter by their neighbours and never went into the camps. |
Cormsa puts the number of displaced at 100,000. | Cormsa puts the number of displaced at 100,000. |
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