Monday, September 28, 2009

Somalis fear for their lives

The plight of Somalis in the Blikkiesdorp emergency camp in Delft is worsening as they say they are now terrified of even leaving their houses to look for food.

A 60-year-old mother says sometimes at night people bang on the wall of her State-supplied tiny, single-roomed zinc dwelling without bathroom or toilet and shout "Somalians, go away".

"We can't go outside because it's very dangerous," said a frightened 30-year-old woman who asked not to be named.

Delft police spokesman Joe Wilson said no compaints of violence had been reported to them.
"But we are monitoring the situation there closely," he added.

Police regularly patrol the area, Wilson said.

The 30-year-old and 26 other Somalis have been staying in Blikkiesdorp for the past three weeks, in appalling conditions. There is no electricity or running water in their corrugated iron structures. The woman and her family sleep on the floor and smoke from the paraffin stove is a health hazard to her children, including a month-old baby. - The Cape Times

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