UNifeed: SOUTH AFRICA / URBAN REFUGEES

SOUTH AFRICA / URBAN REFUGEES

South Africa's influx of people seeking refuge and a way to survive has exacerbated tensions with the urban poor who are competing for the same limited resources. Fifty percent of the world's population or 3.3 billion people live in cities today. UNHCR

Duration:04:31Date:12 December 2009

Categories:

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF, SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND EQUITY, SOUTH AFRICA

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Full Script

STORY: SOUTH AFRICA / URBAN REFUGEES 
TRT: 4.31 
SOURCE: UNHCR 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE 
LANGUAGE: 
     
DATELINE: 24 – 26 AUGUST 2009, SOUTH AFRICA

SHOTLIST

FILE – 25 AUGUST 2009 JOHANNESBURG AND PRETORIA

1. Various shots, new World Cup stadium under construction

FILE - 24 AUGUST 2009 - ATTERIDGEVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA

2. Med shot, woman walking with basket on her head 
3. Med shot, woman by market post 
4. Close up, man at table eating 
5. Wide shot, people on a cue 
6. Med shot, family on cue 
7. Med shot, man unloading bags from a van 
8. Various shots, unloading bags of food into store 
9. Various shots, Hassan Abdi showing scars 
10. SOUNDBITE (broken English) Hassan Abdi, Refugee from Somalia: 
“They start attacking us, immediately, they broke the gates, some of them they came on top and they had broken all the things, they took all our property.  Some of our brothers were killed. Most of them they run away to safety in town. And we didn’t get any help from any person. The police were patrolling somewhere but they didn’t help us. Me, I ran away to catch a taxi somewhere, but when I was standing in the road, some crowd of people attacked me and stabbed me and I run away to town.” 
  
FILE - 26 AUGUST 2009 - PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

11. Various shots, UNHCR officer talking to refugees 
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Monique Ekoka, UNHCR, South Africa: 
“We know that as people move from the townships into urban centers there is scarcity of resources amenities, like electricity or water, and whatever had been put in place cannot accommodate everyone. We are aware of this and whatever that UNHCR is doing is to ensure that whatever is being given to the refugees that the locals would also benefit.”

PHOTO STILLS 2008

13. Various shots, stills of xenophobic violence

FILE - 24 AUGUST 2009, ATTERIDGEVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA

13. Various shots, Ernest Tsuhayo walking with others 
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Ernest Tsuhayo, Community leader, Atteridgeville: 
“Gradually we are getting somewhere definitely. Like before people could not even to talk even though somebody robbed them right in front of this office, he couldn't come and say someone has robbed me.  But now, they do, they have he courage they run directly to the office.” 
  
FILE - 26 AUGUST 2009 – PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

15. Various shots, homeless woman in her makeshift home

25 AUGUST 2009

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Rumbidzai Masimbanda, Refugee from Zimbabwe: 
“The biggest problem is the raping, previously there were rapes here and others were killed, killed here. So when we stay here, we are too afraid, our lives are not good here.” 
  
FILE - 26 AUGUST 2009 - PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

17. Various shots, family going through pictures at a shelter for vulnerable refugees and South Africans 
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Joshua Bokhombe, Refugee from DR Congo:   
“2010 is the world cup here in South Africa.  After 2010 what can happen here? And then I am number one for victim of xenophobia attack, I’m number one. I don’t know but I’m scared that this story is going to come back for me.” 
  
 FILE - 24 AUGUST 2009 - ATTERIDGEVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA

19. Med shot, Hassan in his room 
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Hassan Abdi (as he speaks with Ernest in the store): 
“The people must understand, I am not the problem, the problem is the other side, with the government. The people always attack me, I don't know why.” 
               
21. Tilt up, Hassan showing his papers

STORYLINE:

At first look, South Africa is full of hope and promise. The upcoming World Cup match in 2010 will bring in millions of tourist dollars and has already created thousands of jobs on construction sites. Yet while there is increasing wealth- there is immense poverty. Many here haven’t shared in the country’s prosperity.

A smaller number of Atteridgeville residents are refugees and migrants- attracted to urban areas by the promise of a better life. They are not alone- it’s estimated that more than 5 million refugees around the world live in urban areas.

The growing divide between rich and poor in the country has exacerbated the tensions between the two groups – which has sometimes erupted into brutal violence. Hassan Abdi works in a store in Atteridgeville. He fled the war in Somalia only to be stabbed last year in a xenophobic attack.

SOUNDBITE (broken English) Hassan Abdi, Refugee from Somalia: 
“They start attacking us, immediately, they broke the gates, some of them they came on top and they had broken all the things, they took all our property.  Some of our brothers were killed. Most of them they run away to safety in town. And we didn’t get any help from any person. The police were patrolling somewhere but they didn’t help us. Me, I ran away to catch a taxi somewhere, but when I was standing in the road, some crowd of people attacked me and stabbed me and I run away to town.”

The perception that foreigners are getting a better deal than South African citizens has fueled a high level of xenophobia in the country. Thus the issue of helping asylum seekers and refugees is a politically charged one and makes the job of the UN refugee agency extremely complex. It treads a fine line to respond to the needs of both needy locals and refugees.

SOUNDBITE (English) Monique Ekoka, UNHCR, South Africa: 
“We know that as people move from the townships into urban centers there is scarcity of resources amenities, like electricity or water, and whatever had been put in place cannot accommodate everyone. We are aware of this and whatever that UNHCR is doing is to ensure that whatever is being given to the refugees that the locals would also benefit.” 
  
In 2008 the fragility of the situation became evident when refugees and migrants became targets of South Africans frustrated by a system that seemed to reward only a few.

This year the economy has only gotten worse, and the most impoverished are fed up. Yet this time around, Atteridgeville leaders want to avoid violence by bringing the groups together.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ernest Tsuhayo, Community leader, Atteridgeville: 
“Gradually we are getting somewhere definitely. Like before people could not even to talk even though somebody robbed them right in front of this office, he couldn't come and say someone has robbed me.  But now, they do, they have he courage they run directly to the office.”

But the Atteridgeville approach is the exception and for the most part newly arrived refugees and migrants find that surviving in South Africa’s cities is full of pitfalls. Many, like Rumbidzai, a refugee from Zimbabwe live rough on the city streets.  For now she lives behind these blankets and cardboard boxes. It offers little protection.

SOUNDBITE (English) Rumbidzai Masimbanda, Refugee from Zimbabwe: 
“The biggest problem is the raping, previously there were rapes here and others were killed, killed here. So when we stay here, we are too afraid, our lives are not good here.”

The most vulnerable asylum seekers can stay a short time in UNHCR sponsored shelters but this is a temporary solution, and only helps a very limited number. Joshua Bokhombe and his large family stay in a shelter that houses some 40 others- including some single South African women. In the attacks of last year he lost everything- and one of his daughters was raped.  He fears he will be victimized again.

SOUNDBITE (English) Joshua Bokhombe, Refugee from DR Congo:   
“2010 is the world cup here in South Africa. After 2010 what can happen here? And then I am number one for victim of xenophobia attack, I’m number one. I don’t know but I’m scared that this story is going to come back for me.”

Another concern is finding work. Asylum seekers receive temporary stay documents but many authorities don’t know about them and as a result the papers don't guarantee assistance or safety.  The lack of recognized documents also means finding a job is extremely difficult. Many refugees resort to working on the black market- and are vulnerable to exploitation.

While Hassan Abdi has work, he says he feels like a prisoner.  He no longer feels safe to leave the store. He and two other Somalis stay in this small room.  With only temporary status they prefer to keep a low profile. And despite the efforts in Atteridgeville to bring the communities together, he is still afraid.

SOUNDBITE (English) Hassan Abdi (as he speaks with Ernest in the store): 
“The people must understand, I am not the problem, the problem is the other side, with the government. The people always attack me, I don't know why.”

It's a vicious cycle- without recognized documents refugees and asylum seekers prefer to remain invisible making assistance almost impossible. And as long as refugees and migrants continue to work on the black market, they will remain vulnerable.

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