Malawian man loses everything

Malawian man loses everything

Omar Masapo, a Malawian man who has been living Durban for four years, says he has lost everything in the recent spate of Xenophobic attacks.

blog-2_926loB9.jpg

Masapo worked as a construction worker in Durban and fled to Johannesburg after foreign nationals were targeted in KwaZulu-Natal.

 

“I lost everything I had. I have been here for 4 years. When this happened I lost my home, my documents,” he says.

 

He is currently staying at Christ Church refugee camp in Mayfair set up by the Gift of Givers.

 

Masapo says he would love to stay in South Africa but has to go home to assure his parents that he is okay.

 

 

The Gitf of the Givers has set up tents for 134 refugees, but says the number grows daily.

 

Emily Thomas, events coordinator says once the refugees leave for their home country, they give them food parcels and R600 from donors to take home.

 

Doctors Without Borders have also assisting by giving some of the refugee’s routine check-ups.

 

The United Nations has also requested a meeting with the Gift of Givers to discuss a possibility of partnering with them to further assist refugees.

 

(Edited by Sune Du Toit)

(File photo: Gallo images)

 

Show's Stories