Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

The story in the Cape Times “‘Refugee camps a mistake’ – UN official warns on city plans” (May 28) does not fully reflect the United Nations’ position on the City of Cape Town’s relief operations in the wake of xenophobic violence.

The following is a communication sent to the City of Cape Town on Wednesday by Yusuf Hassan, spokesperson of the UN High Commissioner on Refugees in Pretoria:

“Mr Arvind Gupta of UNHCR never spoke or made comments pertaining to the situation of the displaced people in Cape Town to the Cape Times.

“If anything, statements he made during meetings with the authorities, representatives of the civil society and refugees, had been complimentary of the commendable efforts undertaken by the City of Cape Town, both in the rapid assistance they provided and in their handling of the crisis.

“The UNHCR is of the view that, given the prevailing circumstances, should the authorities and the disaster management bodies consider that it is unavoidable to accommodate the displaced in camp-like settings, it could only take note of this course of action.

“However, it is imperative that such sites meet accepted international standards.

“UNHCR stands ready to assist the authorities in attaining the latter.”

The comment in the editorial of the Cape Times of the same day that there is “a lack of a coherent strategy from the city and province” is also off the mark.

In terms of the Disaster Management Act, it is local government’s job to deal with the immediate humanitarian needs of people whose safety is under threat.

The city stepped into action immediately when the first xenophobic attacks occurred, and with its partners in the NGO sector established six safe areas for around 10 000 people within two days.

At these venues, in which people seeking refuge are free to come and go, the city, in partnership with NGOs, provided security, temporary accommodation in marquee tents, three meals a day, blankets, clothing, health services, toilets and washing facilities, drinking water and some transport.

We also opened community halls and other facilities to provide shelter, although we asked displaced people to move to the main safety sites, because this makes it easier for the city to protect them.

In some cases, especially Ocean View and Scottsdene, communities threatened to burn down halls if they were used to shelter refugees.

The city arranged to have officials from the Department of Home Affairs to be present to assist foreign nationals with registration, and to facilitate those who wished to return to their home countries.

However, not enough Home Affairs officials were made available, so the city volunteered 45 of its own staff, as well as temporary recruits to assist in this process.

The province’s role has been to prevent violence through deploying the SAPS, and the city assisted there, too, with its Metro Police.

The city also asked that province request SANDF peacekeeping forces to help maintain stability and protect displaced people who want to return to their homes in Cape Town.

Surely this does not amount to a “lack of a coherent strategy”?