IOM's Southern Africa Regional Office and METRO FM, South Africa's
largest urban commercial radio station, are joining forces to
combat the spate of xenophobic attacks that have swept the country
and to help the victims.

The joint initiative comprises an information campaign promoting
diversity and tolerance, together with an assistance programme
targeting both foreigners and South Africans negatively affected by
the violence.

IOM is providing 2,000 assistance packs containing basic
sanitary and nutritional items, including mats and blankets, to
meet the immediate needs of some of the 13,000 people believed to
have been displaced.

METRO FM will launch a national on-air fundraising campaign to
buy more of the packs and meet other longer-term needs. It will
also run a national poster campaign reminding people that
xenophobia is akin to the apartheid of the past.

This campaign will also educate the public about foreigners and
locals' rights and responsibilities, in a bid to forestall more
attacks and to pave the way for reconciliation and
reintegration.

"This is a cause that we will lead well beyond this current
situation. As a public broadcaster, METRO FM is committed to
long-term measures. We want to not only educate and inform the
public about the dangers and injustices of xenophobia, but also to
physically touch the lives of those affected on the ground, through
our collaboration with IOM," says Matona Sakupwanya, station
manager of METRO FM.

IOM, through its regional spokesperson, Nde Ndifonka, has
strongly condemned the violence. "These attacks have resulted in
loss of life, severe injuries and displacement for thousands of
people. There can never be any justification for these kinds of
abuses. IOM will work with the government and other partners to
meet the needs of both foreigners and South Africans who have been
affected by the situation," he said.

On Tuesday 20 May, IOM convened an emergency response meeting at
its regional office in Pretoria – bringing together concerned
governments departments, United Nations agencies and NGO partners
to address the issue.

IOM has proposed a two-year programme including a baseline
survey, capacity building of law enforcement and service providers
in South Africa and an information campaign, as well as
facilitating community dialogue around anti-xenophobia. IOM is
appealing for USD 1.9 million to implement the programme. 

For more information please contact:

Nde Ndifonka

IOM Pretoria

Tel: +27.82.667.27.76 or

+27.12.342.27.89

E-mail: "mailto:ndifonka@iom.int">ndifonka@iom.int 

or

Jean-Philippe Chauzy

IOM Geneva

Tel: +41.22.717.9361 or

+41.79.285.4366

E-Mail: "mailto:pchauzy@iom.int">pchauzy@iom.int