UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
21 November 2008
Aunesi Saidi Omari lives in the Philippi township of Cape Town, South Africa. A refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, she was a victim of the xenophobic violence that hit South Africa in May 2008. Afraid of going back to the local community, she is now unsure of her future.
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I wholeheartedly agree with you. However, I must say that all of these reports coming out of Africa about the Xenophobic violence makes me wonder if it's not all being incited by certain organizations that will benefit from this scare. I know that I have put off my plans of coming to South Africa because of these reports. I sincerely hope that the situation is not as badly as the media portrays it. My gut tells me to still make the visit, but I am reluctant.
I am not from Africa, but is there anything I can do to help?
This poor woman! This should not happen! If she lived in Johannesburg I would seek her out and offer her my friendship and whatever else I could do to help her out materially. I run a conversational English class for migrants and refugees in Joburg called Building Bridges. In addition to improving our English skills we do recreational activities with South Africans to try and understand each other better. My students have enriched my life so much and have become my friends. Come on South Africa, we are BETTER than this!!!