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Zimbabwe: Somali Asylum Seekers Report to Police
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
4 July 2008
Posted to the web 4 July 2008
Harare
MORE than 60 Somalis gave themselves up to the Zimbabwean police this week, seeking asylum after sneaking into the country and yesterday they were handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for assistance.
The refugees were reported to be on their way to refugee camps in Zimbabwe.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau said the refugees would be helped.
"They are Somali refugees and when they enter into the country, most of them find their way to Harare Central Police Station for assistance.
"After they arrive at the police station, they will the be taken to the Social Welfare Department at Makombe Building who would then send them to various places," he said.
Insp Sabau said some would be sent to Tongogara Refugee Camp and Waterfalls Transit Camp, among other places. He said some of them have been known to walk long distances crossing several borders to get to their final destination.
A lot of refugees at Tongogara are engaged in income-generating projects such as carpentry and horticulture.
They stay in brick houses, roofed with asbestos, supplied with electricity and running water.
Waterfalls Transit Camp, established in 1980, has given shelter to refugees from the continent and abroad.
The Somali refugees, among them children, were yesterday taken to Makombe Building from Harare Central Police Station at around 8am under police escort.
When The Herald visited the premises yesterday, the refugees were waiting to be assisted by officials from the Social Welfare Department.
Over the years, refugees, especially from Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi, have sought shelter in the country and continue to come despite negative reports by some sections of the international media that Zimbabwe is not safe.
Somalis have mostly been trickling into Zimbabwe in small groups for the past few years from their country ravaged by warlords.
In September 2005, at least 26 hunger-stricken Somali illegal immigrants handed themselves over at Harare Central Police Station seeking asylum after sneaking into the country following a gruelling trek from the north-east African country.
Somalia has been in a state of war since 1991 when military ruler Siad Barre was deposed.
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Government has always been committed to safeguarding the interests of refugees by creating a conducive environment for the provision of adequate water, food, sanitation and medical services.
Haha, oh my god!mugabe you are a joke of the biggest proportion!
How magnus of Zimbabwean Mugabe! Bloody liars.
really Zimbabwe is one fo the African countries that never trouble Somali refugee when they are in Zimbabwe or travelling through it. we exactly Know how Zimbabwe Government is kind to all refugees. we thank the government for that. All the other countries they are arrested. example there are 1000 somali refugees arrested in Tanzania. in Angola many Somalis are the jails. In Botsuwana Many somalis are in jails. only Zimbabwe and south africa wellcome the Somalis.
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