Refugees inhumane conditions slammed

WHILE uncertainty continued to swirl over the circumstances that led to the arrival of the 153 Palestinian refugees in South Africa last week, various organisations commended the government for its "decisive action".

- SIPHO JACK [e-mail]

The Cape Town Ulama Board (CTUB) was one such body that appreciated the country's stance and labelled the humanitarian efforts amidst all the complexities a shining example of Ubuntu in action.

The Palestinian refugees, who arrived at the OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng on Thursday, reportedly paid $2,000 each for the promise of safe transport and settlement in a host country, only to realise that their journey was fraught with uncertainty.

Among the 153 refugees, who were stripped of their possessions, were a pregnant woman and children

The CTUB's secretary general, Shaykh Sayed Ridhwaan, condemned those who were responsible for the initial inhumane conditions that the stranded Palestinians were subjected to.

"We are appalled by reports that these passengers were denied basic necessities such as food and water while confined to the aircraft, and that foreign authorities deliberately withheld necessary exit documentation," Ridhwaan said.

Echoing CTUB's sentiments was Abdool Valodia, president of United for Palestine, who praised the South African government's compassionate handling of the situation.

He expressed gratitude to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for their decisive action in granting entry visas to these distressed citizens.

"This humanitarian gesture, despite their arrival without prior coordination, is a powerful testament to South Africa's solidarity with the Palestinian people," Valodia stated.

However, he also issued a warning to those misleading Palestinian citizens, highlighting the exploitation of their plight for political and financial gain.

"The actions of these entities amount to human trafficking and must be condemned.