Gaza refugees taken for a ride

THE group of 153 Palestinian refugees, who arrived in South Africa this week, had reportedly paid US$2 000 (approximately R34 100) each for the promise of safe transport and settlement in a host country, only to realise that their journey was fraught with uncertainty.

- TASCHICA PILLAY [e-mail]

The humanitarian crisis unfolded at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng this week, as the refugees, among them a pregnant woman and children who were stripped of their possessions in the devastating conflict in Gaza, landed in the country.

Sarah Oosthuizen, a volunteer with humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers said the group arrived with only their passports, some cash and phones.

Oosthuizen said the refugees were unsure of where they were going until they received boarding passes in Nairobi via Global Airways Lift to OR Tambo.

"Most are in family groups. They are malnourished, traumatised and have untended chronic ailments. Multiple organisations and individuals, like Gift of the Givers and Caring Women’s Forum and ordinary South Africans are extending incredible hospitality and provision," she said.

Oosthuizen said on October 28 a plane with 180 people had also landed in Johannesburg and like this week's arrival’s they too did not have exit stamps from Israel. “This must be investigated thoroughly to determine who the role players are behind this,” said Oosthuizen.

Na’eem Jeenah, an activist and community leader who has been in contact with the Palestinians since their arrival in Johannesburg, said the group were not all together as some were being accommodated in different places across Johannesburg. “Some are with South African families, others in hotels and others are living in houses and flats provided to them by compassionate South Africans,” he said.

Jeenah said each person in this group paid an amount of money to an organisation called Al-Majd to get a safe passage out of Gaza.