Assist vulnerable migrants: SA told

In a report released last week the IOM said a survey on the needs vulnerabilities of undocumented migrants in South Africa’s northernmost Limpopo province had shown that there was need for South authorities to urgently act to provide humanitarian assistance for particularly vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied minors, women and victims of sexual and gender-based violence and other crimes.

The report – based on field assessments conducted by IOM between February and March 2009 – in the northern town of Musina said that economic desperation and lack of options at home were forcing tens of thousands of people to engage into perilous journeys through treacherous border areas, including wdainmg across the crocodile-invested Limpopo River in order to reach South Africa.

Often the migrants used unscrupulous intermediaries who regularly abuse them, according to the report. The report underlined that many migrants, especially unaccompanied minors and women, faced brutalities and gender-based violence at the hands of their smugglers who act with impunity and with little or no fear of prosecution from the authorities.

Psychological trauma
As part of the survey, IOM interviewed 214 unaccompanied minors, 75 per cent of whom were boys. The research showed that one of the major motivating factors for children to migrate is family reunification or family breakdown. Eighteen percent said they experienced violence or robbery along their journey and showed signs of deep psychological trauma from the horrendous experiences they went through during the migration process.

The report details the story of migrants who sustained injuries from crawling under razor wire fences to enter South Africa and of women who experienced multiple sexual assaults. In most cases, victims said they were not aware of existing health facilities or that they simply wanted to continue their journey to Johannesburg without interruption.

The survey found that 84 per cent of the 1,128 respondents cited economic reasons or lack of employment opportunities as reasons for leaving their homes, while 6 per cent said they had left their homes out of fear of political, religious or ethnic persecution.
Many respondents said they regularly travelled back and forth between Zimbabwe and South Africa, particularly cross-border traders and farm-workers.

According to the survey, migrants continued to have difficulties in finding meaningful and well-paid employment in South Africa. In total, 55 per cent of respondents said they had some form of income and the majority were earning less than R 1,000 (USD 130) per month.

Remittances
Remittances continued to be a major driving force behind migrants’ decision to travel to South Africa, with a majority of respondents saying four or more people depended on the money they sent back home. Overwhelmingly, remittances are used to buy food.

Of all the respondents, farm workers reported the highest earning and remittance levels, with 94 per cent in possession of a work permit. However, many continued to travel clandestinely to and from the country; with 45 per cent entering South Africa through the same border post.

“There is little social perspective for people entering South Africa as undocumented migrants,” says IOM’s Yukiko Kumashiro. Many are literally living from hand to mouth, often depending on help from well-wishers and NGOs to sustain their livelihoods.”

Musina, which is located some 11 kilometres from the Zimbabwean border, has experienced an influx of mostly Zimbabwean migrants and asylum seekers who transit the Limpopo province to travel to cities such as Johannesburg.

Counselling services
The survey recommends setting up counselling and support services for migrants who have experienced violence and trauma during the migration process, especially for women and unaccompanied minors. Such services should be extended beyond the town of Musina to Makhado and to private farms where significant numbers of migrants are employed.

Similarly, family tracing and/or reunification of unaccompanied minors within South Africa and Zimbabwe should be strengthened.

IOM is providing humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwean migrants in the Limpopo Province, with a focus on vulnerable undocumented migrants, informal cross-border traders, unaccompanied minors, victims of human trafficking, of sexual and gender-based violence and migrant workers on commercial farms and mines.

The humanitarian assistance includes food and non-food assistance, legal counselling and family tracing and reunification services. IOM also carries out awareness-raising activities on safe migration and supports migrants’ shelters.