XENOPHOBIA CRISIS: A Complex Social Disaster: SALGA ... · Centre (DOC) in Goodwood. Disciplines...

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XENOPHOBIA CRISIS: A Complex Social Disaster:

SALGA ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP: 14 SEPTEMBER 2017

Greg PillayDisaster Risk Management Centre

BACKGROUND

Xenophobic Violence erupted in the Western Cape in Du Noon Informal Settlement, near Table View on the 22 May 2008 and in other parts of the Metropolitan Area and the Province thereafter, having commenced a week earlier in Gauteng.

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Disaster Management as we know it today, had its origins in CivilDefence organizations.

Concept of Civil Defence established during Second World War(1939 -1945).

London Air Bombardments by Germany during May 1940 promptedauthorities to implement certain measures to counteract this.

Civil Defence measures included early warning (air raid sirens),underground protection (bomb shelters, bunkers), evacuation, etc.


Emphasis was placed on self-sufficiency where communityleaders were trained to assume command in conflictsituations.

Organizational arrangements included civilians trained in firefighting and first-aid to alleviate serious injury and damage toproperty.

Since South Africa at the time was part of the so- called AlliedForces, these concepts were transferred to it, as an attack onthis country was quite possible then.


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ACTIVATION OF DISASTER CO-ORDINATING TEAM

On 23 May 2008, the Disaster Co-ordinating Team (DCT) was activated in order to effectively manage the emergency that occurred. The Team assembled at the Disaster Operations Centre (DOC) in Goodwood.

Disciplines from all emergency services, security services and essential services as well as Civil Society partners such as NGO’s and the Trauma Centre formed part of this multi-disciplinary team.

The Disaster Operations Centre was managed on a 24 Hour basis and all role-players were present.


2001 : Public Hearings

2002 : Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 promulgated

2005 : National Disaster Risk Management Framework Published


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SAFETY SITES

Around 20 000 refugees were quickly sheltered in various locations across the Metropole:-

•Soetwater Campsite Resort,

•Youngsfield Military Base,

•Harmony Park Campsite Resort in Strand,

•Silverstroom Campsite Resort on the West Coast and

•Bluewaters Campsite Resort

•Various community halls (14),

•Various religious and civil society premises


The refugees were housed at these relatively remote locations for their own safety.


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SAFETY SITES


The safety sites were managed on a 24 hour basis. Site managers were appointed to each safety site. Disaster Risk Management field staff together with Law Enforcement agencies, other City Officials, Civil Society, volunteers from various communities and NGO’s worked together in managing these safety sites.

A HAZARD: is any set of conditions that places people or an area atrisk. Examples of hazards include - floods, earthquakes, fire,drought, blizzards, tornadoes, epidemics, nuclear material, pollution,utility failures, transportation accidents, terrorism, riots, warfare, etc(World Disasters Report, 2002: 9).

VULNERABILITY: simply put is the degree of loss that could resultfrom a potentially damaging phenomenon (Republic of South Africa2002: 10).

ELEMENTS AT RISK : Includes a wide range of things that make upour society – people’s lives, their health, economic opportunities,equipment, livelihoods, crops, livestock, houses, roads, schools,natural environment, etc (Coburn, Spence, Pomonis, 1991: 19).


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Types of Disasters

FOUR (4) MAIN CATEGORIES:

Natural Disasters

Human-Caused or Man-Made Disasters

Rapid Onset Disasters

Slow Onset Disasters


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INVOLVEMENT OF UNITED NATIONS

• First time Republic of South Africa has dealt with a crisis of this nature.

• Appeal was made by South African Government for United Nations assistance since foreign nationals were involved.

• The UN inter-agency task team was committed to mobilising assistance and support on behalf of the UN.


• The United Nations offered their assistance to the Province with regards to site management.

• A co-ordinating structure of UN agencies (including OCHA, IOM, UNICEF, Red Cross and OXFAM) and the Province met at the Provincial Disaster Management Centre in order to provide their technical assistance regarding the ongoing humanitarian support.

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Mission is to mobilise and co-ordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

IOM - International Organisation for Migration

The leading inter-governmental organisation in the field of migration.

UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund

Provide long term humanitarian and development assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

OXFAM - Oxford Committee for Famine Relief

Focus on humanitarian work, assisting those immediately affected by conflict and natural disasters.


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RELIEF TO FOREIGN NATIONALS

The City of Cape Town together with NGO’s had to provide these persons with shelter, basic municipal services, food and medical care.


THE NGO’S THAT WERE IDENTIFIED:

• Mustadafin Foundation• Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDI) support• South African National Zakah Fund (SANZAF)• Red Cross Society• Salvation Army


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RELIEF TO FOREIGN NATIONALS

• In helping the victims of Xenophobic violence, the City of Cape Town was in the unusual position of having to deal directly with a international crisis that is not really within the City’s constitutional mandate as a local authority.

• Dealing with attacks against foreign nationals by SA Citizens and provide relief and assistance to the victims is a National issue and nowhere in the world is a local government expected to manage complex issues such as repatriation of foreign nationals. This is more appropriately the responsibility of National Government and international organisations such as the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR).



• The Dept of Social Development of PG:WC with various NGO’s continued to provide nutritional meals for the displaced persons.

• During the recent months the Department of Social Services provided meals for approximately 11 000 persons twice daily and continued to provide extra relief for mothers and babies.

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The City spent R 206 million for its contribution in the management of the disaster.

The Dept of Social Development of PG:WC was supported by the Red Cross (amongst other NGO’s) that assisted with the provision of blankets and clothing.



Water and sanitation, primary health services were provided at all safety sites by the City.

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• DECLARATION OF A DISASTER

A Provincial disaster was declared on 29 May 2008, giving the Provincial Government the primary responsibility for handling the disaster. After initial estimates of up to 20 000 people that were displaced, it decreased to 11 000, as at 17 June 2008.


• A joint Provincial/ City of Task Team was established on 13 June 2008, together with representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the South African Police Services to further manage the crisis.

• The task team agreed to establish specific Working Groups for Accommodation and Health, Re-integration, Safety and Security, Repatriation, and to compile an Integrated database.


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• RE – INTEGRATION

• The mediation process began on the 26 May 2008. Based on feedback from the mediation teams deployed, there were groups at safety sites who strongly wanted to be re-integrated.

• In some instances such as at Masiphumulele, re-integration into previous occupied communities, was successful.

• Generally, foreign nationals feared being re-integrated into local areas where they previously stayed.


COMPARISON

SAFETY SITES 26 MAY 08 31 AUGUST 08

Soetwater 2705 200

Harmony Park 3317 700

Silverstroom 1930 71

Youngsfield 1200 618

Blue Waters 730 433

Community Halls 11245 509

TOTALS 21127 2531


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• About 2 531 displaced foreign nationals in 33 sites remained in Western Cape after 3 months

• The large majority of displaced persons in Metropolitan Cape Town continued to reside in the five mega camps, whose total population remained stable.

• The City of Cape Town, the Department of Local Government and Housing, the Department of Social Development and the Department of Home Affairs came to an agreement on how to support the re-integration of the displaced.


• An agreement was reached that the 37 existing sites would be consolidated into three sites. Blue Waters, Harmony Park and Youngsfield. All existing sites closed on 31 August 2008.

• A consolidated movement plan was formulated for the movement of foreign nationals to those 3 sites.


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CHALLENGES

REPATRIATION

The National Dept of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations continued to work on this process.

NATIONALITIES : FOREIGN NATIONALS

Burandi, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Somali, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Malawi, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo.


SHELTER

Shelter in tents in all sites was considered to be inadequate and below minimum standards for privacy, dignity,

protection and safety issues. It was recommended by the (UNHRC) that larger tents be removed and rather provide

smaller family size tents.

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COMMUNICATION

The lack of communication from government to displaced persons cause psychological distress and hinder re‐integration. It was recommended that site visits composed of key stakeholders should regular visit the camps to meet with displaced persons and share information.

EDUCATION

The Department of Education : Western Cape was requested to ensure that the school going children in these sites continue to receive ongoing education.


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WATER AND SANITATION

• In all sites water supply exceeded minimum requirements, however, in some sites access to hot water for bathing was limited. Toilet and bathing facilities in all sites posed protection concerns for women and girls.


FOOD AND NUTRITION

A comprehensive nutritional analysis of food provided was undertaken to ensure a balanced diet.


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HEALTH


In case of medical emergencies ambulances were dispatched to the camps. Provision was made to ensure regular mobile clinics visits by primary health

practitioners.

• Poor weather conditions in the form of gale force winds and cold fronts causing storms had adverse effects on many of the mega camp sites.


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Bad weather caused tents to be blown over which had to be reconstructed overnight, thus threatening shelter of many of

the displaced persons.



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Thank You

For queries contact (insert [email protected])

XENOPHOBIA CRISIS: A Complex Social Disaster: SALGA ... · Centre (DOC) in Goodwood. Disciplines...

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