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Malawi Government seeking donations for repatriation efforts
The Malawian Department of Disaster Management Affairs has released a statement regarding the repatriation of its citizens from South Africa. They state that they have identified 10 000 Malawian nationals experiencing distress across the country, but they do not have enough funds to carry out the repatriation in the way their comprehensive response has been activated to facilitate the safe, orderly and dignified return of its citizens. The statement outlines key intervention undertaken so far.
However, they point out that “the scale and urgency of the operation have created an unprecedented financial, logistical and humanitarian demands”. The government is therefore calling on development partners, the private sector, humanitarian organisations, faith-based institutions, transport operators, corporate entities and all well wishers to assist with donations. They assure that the funds will be managed with transparency, and accountability, and that the funds will be used exclusively for repatriation purposes.
Criticism
South Africans have responded to the call for help with criticism; “so now you understand the feeling of being expected to suddenly come up with money for something that you never planned or budgeted for. You can’t even raise a once off fund to assist with the repatriation of your own citizens, yet South Africans are expected to somehow find the resources year after year to accommodate the costs associate with large numbers. Then when taxpayers question the strain on public services and finances, they are branded xenophobic.
Financial realities suddenly become important when the bill lands on your doorstep, but when South Africans raise the same concerns, they’re told to stop complaining and carry on paying”, said an X user. Others are calling for the EFF to make the donations necessary.
The Government remains under pressure as thousands of displaced Malawians await assistance to go home. The situation is slowly becoming a humanitarian crisis for those currently sheltering at Sherwood Hall in Durban as tensions rise and numbers increase.
