[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Anti-X? Useless UN HCR

[Patrick Bond]

Harsh words for UN refugee body in SA
Johannesburg, South Africa    

21 June 2008 10:20
The South African office of the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees (UNHCR) failed to respond meaningfully to the needs of 
foreigners displaced by recent xenophobic attacks, civil society bodies 
said on Friday.

In a statement to mark World Refugee Day, several civil society bodies 
listed demands in a letter to the world body of the UNHCR.

They said several insensitive comments had been made by officials that 
sought to promote South African tourism and reintegration exclusively 
instead of the mandate of the UNHCR.

"For weeks now the UNHCR has insisted that they cannot advise or 
intervene unless they are in receipt of a formal invitation from the 
South African government. This is incorrect. Under the statute of the 
UNHCR they do not have to wait for a formal invitation from the South 
African government to intervene," the statement said.

According to the civil society bodies, the ultimate authority over the 
activities of the UNHCR rests with the UN General Assembly, and not with 
individual governments.

The statement further said the Gauteng and Western Cape provincial 
governments indicated that they had sought the assistance of the UNHCR.

The demands listed by the civil society bodies included that the UNHCR 
in South Africa must make available its plan to assist thousands of 
displaced people across the country as well as its plan to protect 
displaced people.

They also called on the executive committee of the UNHCR to meet to 
discuss the crisis in South Africa. "It must acknowledge the callous and 
unhelpful attitude of the UNHCR officials in Pretoria and issue an 
official apology." -- Sapa