Centre News Hub
Blantyre- Regional humanitarian organization, Gift of the Givers Foundation, has extended a helping hand and supported the safe repatriation of over 10 000 stranded Malawians and other African nationals, including Zimbabweans who fear for their lives over the infamous campaign against illegal immigrants in South Africa.
The organisation said it has fed thousands of Malawians, Zimbabweans and Congolese at camps in Sherwood in Durban, Johannesburg and Musina.
Gift of the Givers teams are currently on the ground at the Department of Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre in Epping, where more than 1,000 Zimbabwean nationals are being processed following their relocation from the Zimbabwean Consulate.
“The numbers have increased significantly over the last 24 hours as families wait to be documented ahead of repatriation. Gift of the Givers will be providing humanitarian aid assistance, including essential food, water and basic relief items, to support vulnerable families during this difficult period. Authorities continue to manage the processing as efforts are underway to ensure the safe and dignified return of those affected,” the organisation said in a statement.
“The foundation has been working closely with the Malawi High Commission staff to process all the people who are travelling on one travel document, before departure,” Said Gift of Givers in a statement.
In Malawi, the Gift of the Givers-Malawi Office has been on the ground since the first bus carrying returnees arrived at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. They have provided hot meals, buns and tea, warm clothes for the children, water buckets and blankets.
Gift of the Givers’ Country Director for the Malawi office, Ms. Sherifa Mia, reaffirmed Gift of the Givers’ commitment to assist all the Malawians who are coming back from South Africa.
“The team will look into the bio data of the returnees and see how best to assist them reintegrate into society, providing them with livelihood support projects so that they do not go back to South Africa, but stay in Malawi and contribute to the fiscus.”
“To date, a total of 140 buses have arrived from South Africa, bringing in 10,517 people, of which 1,256 are under-5 children and 298 expectant women. Statistics also show that 52, 6% are male and 47, 4% are female,” she said.
On 24 June, the Gift of the Givers Foundation Johannesburg team provided humanitarian assistance to a further 100 Zimbabwean families who are temporarily sheltering in Hillbrow and Yeoville, as part of the country’s ongoing repatriation process involving foreign nationals.
“Understanding the challenges faced by these families during this transitional period, Gift of the Givers extended much-needed relief to help restore dignity and provide essential support,” the organization said.
The organization has offered support in the form of maize meal, food hampers and hygiene packs.
