SA not asked to help with European refugee crisis - home affairs

Source: Jenni Evans, News24, 07/09/2015

Johannesburg - South Africa has not yet been asked to provide help
during the European refugee crisis, the Department of Home Affairs
said on Monday.


Spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said the country helped through its
contributions to various United Nations agencies, but so far had not
been approached by individuals or any of the European countries caught
up in the crisis.


Earlier, New Zealand announced it would accept 150 refugees over the
next three years and France and Germany said they would take 55 000
refugees.


The UN High Commission for Refugees has also praised the decision of
Austria and Germany to receive thousands of refugees and migrants who
crossed the border from Hungary on Saturday, saying it was "political
leadership based on humanitarian values".


Tshwete said if there were requests from refugees seeking to come to
South Africa, they would have to be in line with existing asylum
seeker laws and documentation.


"South Africa already sees the highest amount of asylum seekers in the
world as one country. Having a good human heart is important, but
having the capacity and resources to process and deal with
humanitarian efforts is important."


If a South African family wants to take in a refugee family, as many
are doing in Europe, it has to be done legally with the refugee or
asylum seeker making a proper application.


Tshwete said this prevented abuse, besides helping the government plan
accordingly.


"In this context of humanitarian efforts, not all people are
good.

Some people see a labour force they can exploit."


'I'm so proud of South Africa'
Gift of the Givers head Imtiaz Sooliman, who has helped establish two
hospitals in Syria, said the war there was like nothing he had ever
seen.


He described it as "the silent war" because of the dearth of
journalists and international aid agencies normally associated with
strife-torn regions.


"The exodus is nothing new. I am happy the world is finally taking
notice."


He said South Africans had dug deep for the two hospitals in the
war-torn country, one established in 2013, and another built by the
Turkish Red Crescent in conjunction with Gift of the Givers.


"I'm so proud of South Africa," said Sooliman.


The hospitals sometimes have to function with bombs falling on
buildings around them.


The first hospital was established with the help of South African
doctors, but both are now staffed by local doctors to overcome
problems with permits and language.


Over the past two years, they have helped around 300 000
patients.


"We are fortunate to have saved many lives in that hospital. When
people see the hospital, they collapse out of shock that South Africa
is supporting it. It is the best facility in the entire country."