In an effort to curb the spread COVID-19, countries, including South Africa have been tightening borders and putting travel restrictions in place. These actions have affected refugees and migrants worldwide. Refugees and migrants across Africa are particularly vulnerable during this pandemic. 

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in South Africa is supposed to be helping in finding solutions for refugees, to promote and protect their human rights, especially during a pandemic like COVID-19.  But the UNHCR have been absent and quiet since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Our efforts and that of many organisations working with refugees to get hold of them for over a month have been unsuccessful to the point where we even wondered if their office in SA is still operating.

It was a surprise to hear a representative from UNHCR, Mr Leonard Zulu on SA FM on 23rd April, on Life Happens with Ms Phemelo Motene. They discussed the role that the UN Refugee Agency plays in assisting refugees and migrants in South Africa during the COVID-19 lockdown.

First, we would like to applaud SA FM for getting the UNHCR representative on the show.  Many of us needed to hear what they are doing to support the refugees and migrants in this country during this difficult time.  Many refugees are stranded and need assistance now more than ever. 

When asked what concrete actions the UNHCR is doing to help many refugees and migrants who are desperately facing hunger and have fallen between clack and can’t get help from government or NGOs; Mr Zulu’s response was that they are working through their implementing partners across South Africa and that their support is designated for the most vulnerable.

He confirmed that the UNHCR has not only helped thousands of refugees but even South African citizens (who are neighbours of refuges as host communities). “Some of the assistance received by refugees and citizens was  money for food and rental money for those who were at risk of being evicted.” Mr Zulu Added.

After Mr Zulu’s response on air about how the institution has helped thousands, we sought to find out who among refugee communities and South Africans who have actually benefited from them.  It turns out that majority have actually not gotten any assistance from UNHCR, despite claims that they helped thousands.

There are still many refugees who are desperate for help and have tried reaching out to the institutions through various organizations that support refugees like Scalabrini, Crystal Horizons Youth Centre, the Africa Diaspora Forum, Africa Unite  and others.. For the past two weeks of investigation conducted in Gauteng and Western Cape provinces, we came across to less 80 people who confirmed having received an amount between R350 - R700. No one confirmed having received any rental money from the UNHCR or its implementing partners.   This is not even 1% of those desperately in need.

We cannot tell who between the UN Official and the implementing partners is not telling the truth.

We are wondering why telling the world that they are helping thousands of people when they are not. Coming to the radio station such as SA FM, which has a listenership of millions to tell the world that they have helped those you supposed to be helping is misleading and dishonest. 

The information we received from both provinces namely Western Cape and Gauteng suggest that many refugees and migrants are starving and those who tried to reach out to UNHCR implementing partners were told that the little support received from the UN had finished a long time ago. Refugees told us that to get hold of someone at these implementing partners’ hotline may take two weeks trying every day, and this is if you are lucky.

The statement from Mr Zulu alone is clear that the UN Refugee Agency is disconnected from the reality on the ground and have failed to adhere to the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees which provides a blueprint for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host communities get the support they need and that refugees and migrants are cared for.

Most refugees and migrants who tried to seek support from local councillors were told that it is only for locals who have a South African identity documents There seem to be so much misunderstanding and misinformation about who is supposed to get assistance; even the officials who work for these institutions seem to not really have an understanding.

We, as Crystal Horizons Youth Centre are putting the following as priority areas requiring urgent attention from the Government, the UNHCR and other Civil Society:

We ask the UNHCR to investigate if funds donated to support refugees did indeed get to those most in need and urge the international cooperating partners to assist and come to rescue of thousands of refugees and migrants facing starvation.

As a matter of urgency, we are appealing to the South African Government to include refugees and migrants in its relief because those who supposed to help them have failed.

We call leaders to desist from xenophobic language and hate speech that seek to discriminate people and instead promote social cohesion, Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism. We should have learnt our lessons with the past xenophobic attacks which were triggered by reckless statements from some of the leaders.

We call for the South African President – Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa as the African Union Chair to rebuke openly the leaders who seek to use this pandemic to divide people.

Issued by Crystal Horizons Youth Centre