Refugees left “homeless & hopeless”

 An estimated 260 people fled their homes to seek shelter at the diplomatic mission on Thursday, as the state sponsored violence against MDC supporters continued. The group, including women and young children, waited several hours while embassy officials rallied humanitarian groups, includingRefugees left homeless and hopeless outside US embassy

By Alex Bell

04 July 2008

 

While officials at the US Embassy in Harare took the day off to celebrate America’s Independence Day on Friday, almost 200 victims of political violence were still waiting outside the embassy gates seeking refuge and shelter.

 

An estimated 260 people fled their homes to seek shelter at the diplomatic mission on Thursday, as the state sponsored violence against MDC supporters continued. The group, including women and young children, waited several hours while embassy officials rallied humanitarian groups, including the Red Cross and UNICEF, to provide food, water and start organising shelter for the homeless group.

 

Harare based journalist Angus Shaw, told Newsreel on Friday that embassy officials by late Thursday evening had organised charity homes for most of the women and children, as well as medical treatment for the injured. He says the remaining group of about 170 are still waiting while embassy and humanitarian officials try to organise places of safety and shelter for them.

 

Shaw said the group, which he described as wan, sick, weak, carrying pathetic bundles of possessions were forced out of their homes because of fear of being attacked by Zanu PF militia. Shaw said many of the fugitives told him they had nowhere else to go, because their homes had been burnt down and their families were threatened. He said the group is simply homeless and hopeless.

 

Shaw said the refugees are in a safe environment and although there is a large police presence outside the embassy, the group of displaced victims have not been forced to leave or threatened with further violence. Shaw added that police were taking photographs of the group to show them that they are being documented.

 

Last week up to 300 MDC supporters fled to the South African embassy in Harare to seek shelter in the violent week leading up to the sham run-off poll last Friday. The group were eventually moved to a holding centre in Ruwa, just outside Harare. The removals were facilitated by South African embassy officials and UN representatives, and Shaw told Newsreel it seems likely that the refugees outside the US embassy will be moved to Ruwa too.

 

Shaw said the two incidents point to a much larger problem throughout the country, where an estimated quarter of a million people have been displaced because of politically motivated violence.

 

  the Red Cross and UNICEF, to provide food, water and start organising shelter for the homeless group.

 

Harare based journalist Angus Shaw, told Newsreel on Friday that embassy officials by late Thursday evening had organised charity homes for most of the women and children, as well as medical treatment for the injured. He says the remaining group of about 170 are still waiting while embassy and humanitarian officials try to organise places of safety and shelter for them.

 

Shaw said the group, which he described as wan, sick, weak, carrying pathetic bundles of possessions were forced out of their homes because of fear of being attacked by Zanu PF militia. Shaw said many of the fugitives told him they had nowhere else to go, because their homes had been burnt down and their families were threatened. He said the group is simply homeless and hopeless.

 

Shaw said the refugees are in a safe environment and although there is a large police presence outside the embassy, the group of displaced victims have not been forced to leave or threatened with further violence. Shaw added that police were taking photographs of the group to show them that they are being documented.

 

Last week up to 300 MDC supporters fled to the South African embassy in Harare to seek shelter in the violent week leading up to the sham run-off poll last Friday. The group were eventually moved to a holding centre in Ruwa, just outside Harare. The removals were facilitated by South African embassy officials and UN representatives, and Shaw told Newsreel it seems likely that the refugees outside the US embassy will be moved to Ruwa too.

 

Shaw said the two incidents point to a much larger problem throughout the country, where an estimated quarter of a million people have been displaced because of politically motivated violence.