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Zim families flooding SA
11/07/2008 16:22 - (SA)
Cape Town - Zimbabweans fleeing their country for South Africa because of political violence are now bringing their families with them, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Pretoria.
The UNHCR has noticed some disturbing developments with the pattern of displacement from Zimbabwe, spokesperson Yusuf Hassan said on Friday.
Following the March general elections, and accelerating since the June 27 presidential run-off vote, more refugees were crossing the border into South Africa seeking asylum.
Previously, most Zimbabweans crossing the border were single men (about 90%) or women seeking work.
"We are now seeing however, an increasing number of families arriving as a result of political violence, with several people showing signs of beatings or torture," Hassan said.
Humanitarian aid needed
In the town of Musina near the northern border with Zimbabwe, there was a visible presence of vulnerable Zimbabweans sleeping rough in the bush, begging at traffic lights and clearly in distressed circumstances and desperately needing humanitarian help.
Most of the support they received came from faith-based groups, but the resources of these groups were very limited.
The UNHCR was looking to reinforce these efforts, he said.
A further indication of the evolving refugee situation was the growing crowds of Zimbabweans - around 3 000 to 4 000 - approaching the Crown Mines Refugee Registration Office in Johannesburg each Thursday and Friday, the days set aside for Zimbabwean asylum seekers.
Many new arrivals were entering the country through unauthorised border points - those entering legally usually did not claim asylum upon entry - making it difficult to give an accurate estimate of the numbers involved.
17 000 Zimbabweans deported
Hassan said: "Fearful of arrest and deportation, they remain underground, making them vulnerable to other forms of violence and exploitation such as rape and robbery.
"According to reliable sources, in the last 40 days alone, some 17 000 Zimbabweans have been deported from South Africa through the Beit Bridge border post, despite earlier calls from UNHCR to suspend all deportations.
"In our view, the large scale deportations, coupled with the difficulties that Zimbabweans face braving the crowds to access the national asylum procedure, create a real risk that refoulement - or forcible return to their country of origin where they could face danger - could occur."
Therefore, the UNHCR, working together with the authorities, had reinforced its presence at the border and was making daily visits to the detention and deportation facility in Musina to identify asylum seekers, and refer them to the appropriate government authorities.
"We continue to urge South Africa to exceptionally grant Zimbabweans a temporary legal status allowing them to stay in the country, an option which is foreseen in national legislation," Hassan said.
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