Refugees at the Paint City Camp in Bellville, Cape Town, on 30
April 2021. It was reported that about 600 refugees have lived at the Paint
City temporary shelter for eight months after being removed from Greenmarket
Square. They were told to either reintegrate into local communities or
voluntarily repatriate to their countries of origin.
US President Donald Trump's widespread cuts to foreign aid for humanitarian
organisations continue to cause ripple effects globally and, in many cases, irreparable
harm to vulnerable and marginalised populations. In South Africa, many asylum
seekers and refugees have had life-saving social assistance ripped away from
them.
"They were killing us. Anyone who supported that party was seen as an
enemy. They were killing us and our family members - some of my relatives, I
don't even know where they are today. My life was in danger because they were
looking for me, and I had nowhere to hide. That's why I had to leave. I
didn't want to, but I had to."
This is how *Asher - forced to flee his home in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) - described to Daily Maverick how he became an asylum seeker in
South Africa in 2007.
Asher said he was a vocal supporter of a political party, the name of which
he chose not to disclose to protect his identity and out of fear of
persecution. The party had contested the 2006 election to fight for the
freedom and rights of future generations, but after its loss he became a
political target and was forced to flee for his life.
Like many of the approximately 250,000 refugees and asylum seekers in South
Africa, Asher had no support system and received little assistance from the
government. Instead, he relied on civil society organisations for social aid
- until January, when US President Donald Trump froze all foreign aid to
humanitarian organisations.
The foreign aid cuts initially began as a 90-day funding freeze, with Trump
claiming that USAID's work was “not aligned with American interests”.
However, on 27 February, the Trump administration issued a notice stating
that all US funding to these programmes would be permanently
terminated.
The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and Refugee Social Services (RSS), South
African organisations that help refugees and asylum seekers, confirmed that
the US Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration
(PRM) had withdrawn funding, severely affecting their services.
According to PRM's website, the bureau was established to promote “US
interests by working to reduce illegal migration, provide humanitarian
assistance to those fleeing persecution, crisis or violence, and seek durable
solutions for forcibly displaced people around the world”.
Essential services under threat
“It is incredible how far this has gone. Obviously, the medical side with
the Pepfar cuts is huge, but if you look at individuals who have fled war,
torture and persecution, they are an incredibly vulnerable group that lacks
proper provision,” said James Chapman, head of advocacy and legal advice at
Scalabrini.
Chapman said the withdrawal of aid from PRM had significantly affected
Scalabrini's programmes, with about 40% of the organisation's funding cut.
This had resulted in the closure of critical programmes, including extensive
support for the integration of asylum seekers and refugees into communities,
livelihood support and basic needs assistance for those who have escaped
violence and persecution.
“Take, for example, someone who was receiving assistance to integrate into
the workplace to contribute to the economy - that economic contribution is
now lost. English classes, computer literacy, skills development and even
basic support for the most vulnerable have all been reduced or suspended
entirely,” Chapman explained.
He added that because of South Africa's urban refugee policy - under which
asylum seekers and refugees are expected to be self-sufficient - it is vital
for them to receive support from civil society organisations to avoid
becoming burdens on the state.
Families left without lifelines
RSS provides psychosocial support, safe spaces and social protection for vulnerable
refugee and asylum-seeking communities, including the elderly, people living
with disabilities and children.
Yasmin Rajah, executive director of the KwaZulu-Natal-based organisation,
told Daily Maverick that PRM funding had provided financial assistance for
these groups.
“It was not much, but we made sure that what we gave them was in line with
what Sassa grant recipients were receiving. Now that the funding has been
cut, we have had to suspend that service,” she said.
Asher, who has two children, relied on the grant from RSS to care for his
eldest, who is on the autism spectrum and largely non-verbal.
“I have to take my child to the hospital for appointments at least twice a
week. I have tried to work, but every time I get fired because my employers
say I am absent too much. That money from RSS was the only thing ensuring
that my family had food and that my child could get medication. Now, I cannot
pay school fees, I cannot pay rent and I cannot work. This is not how I saw
myself living when I left the DRC,” Asher said.
‘We are suffering'
“These two months have been a problem for me and my children. I cannot
work, so I do not have money. I am suffering - I can't even explain it to
you,” *Nathalie told Daily Maverick.
Nathalie, another refugee from the DRC, is a single mother of two. Her
youngest child, a five-year-old, has a number of disabilities.
“I was working before my youngest was born, but my child cannot see and
uses a wheelchair. I cannot put her in a crèche because many people do not
have the heart to take care of a child with disabilities. I am afraid to
leave her with others because I don't know what will happen to her. Now, I
need to stay home and care for her,” she said.
Even when she was receiving financial help from RSS, finding specialised
childcare was nearly impossible.
“Most of the money I received went towards transporting my child to and
from the hospital, paying for medication, buying food and covering basic
needs. Now, my child needs to take tablets, but I can't give them to her
because there is no food and no money to buy either. This makes me feel so
helpless. Even now, I cannot speak because of the pain I feel in my heart,”
Nathalie said.
A forgotten population
As asylum seekers, neither Asher nor Nathalie qualifies for grants or other
government assistance from South Africa's Department of Social Development.
RSS had filled that gap, but with the withdrawal of PRM funding, many
refugees are now without a safety net.
Despite the funding crisis, Rajah said RSS is exploring ways to continue
providing support.
“We have had donations from a few local people and faith-based organisations
in the area. What we worry about the most is what people are eating. The
churches are trying to fill the gap and have provided food parcels, which
have helped a lot - but it is not enough.”
For refugees like Asher and Nathalie, the loss of aid has made an already
difficult life even harder. Without urgent intervention, thousands of asylum
seekers and refugees in South Africa face deepening poverty and isolation,
with little hope of relief. DM
* Not their real names.
Rajah said RSS is open to receiving cash donations, non-perishable foods
and clothes from anyone or organisation that is willing to help.
“We can provide an 18A certificate for tax purposes. In that case people
who donate and want 18A will have to send proof of payments and their contact
details so we connect to send the certificates,” Rajah said. |