Obama message spreads false hope for refugees
While the city seems to be calm, foreign nationals continue to live in fear and hope.
A message circulating on social media amongst refugees could be giving false hope to those seeking asylum in other countries.
The Berea Mail was forwarded this message that has allegedly been doing the rounds in immigrant communities:
“The President Barack Obama has decided to rescue all refugees in South Africa after seeing all xenophobic videos. USA are helping people and re-install them in Washington giving them a new warm home and help them with right papers to stay permanently in USA. This will happen as from this Monday 20 April 2015. Mr Obama said that USA still have many free spaces and places for millions of people to stay in. He also confirmed that jobs will be given to everyone for the development of the United States of America’s economy.”
Yasmin Rajah, director of Refugee Social Services, says they’re concerned about a number of false messages circulating amongst the refugee community which she says, “are creating both panic as well as hope and expectation of being taken elsewhere.”
Hundreds of displaced and fearful refugees are still making their way to Refugee Social Services at the Diakonia Centre in Durban where staff have been inundated with requests for aid. Rajah says staff have been dealing with isolated attacks on foreigners for more than a year.
She said staff at Refugee Social Services were currently assisting with community wellness centres, stimulating children who had been removed from school and were also visiting and speaking to traumatised individuals at the various camps and quelling their fears about further attacks.
“At our office we cannot accommodate any of the refugees, but only direct them to places of safety and shelter.
‘We have been inundated with so many requests that it has become difficult for us to see each individual and have been forced to print request slips that those who come to us for help can fill in and we will contact them to offer the necessary help and advise as we work through the hundreds of requests,”she said, adding that on Tuesday alone, more than 1600 requests for aid had been received and returned.
Rajah said many of the refugees who had businesses had lost most of their stock and equipment required to earn an income. What was desperately required was new women’s underwear and nappies. Anyone who can assist can email admin@refugeesocialservices.co.za or follow updates on their Facebook page.
