Worldwide - Autumn 2020

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NLCS WORLDWIDE MAGAZINE Autumn 2020 Edition Editor in Chief, Ella Davey

AFRICA

minister at Ethiopia’s ministry, Tsion Teklu, said that around 16,000 Ethiopians are thought to be held in Saudi prisons, 4000 have been repatriated since April, and a further 2000 are to be brought back to Ethiopia by mid-October.

Section edited by Anoushka Chawla Ethiopian Migrants in Saudi Arabia, By Talya Samji Many people, both legally and illegally, migrate to Saudi Arabia for the economic opportunities; approximately 6.6 million foreign workers make up 20% of the nation’s population. A large proportion of those that moved to the nation this year are Ethiopian and had initially moved to Yemen. Due to the conflict these migrants were forced out by Houthi rebels - according to Amnesty, who have played a large role in documenting the stories of those who have been released from the centres. When the Coronavirus pandemic struck, it emerged that many Ethiopian migrants were being detained in cells “reminiscent of Libya’s slave camps”, as described by The Telegraph. Thousands of people were being kept in inhumane conditions, deprived of basic facilities and treated like prisoners. Images have been released that show scars and bruises of those that were being held, along with videos of the detention centres themselves. For some, the environment has proven too tough and at least three people are known to have died because of the cruel surroundings and treatment. Saudi Arabia has been tackling the illegal migrant issue in the last couple of years and it was recorded that in 2017 there were about 500,000 undocumented immigrants from Ethiopia, and around 10,000 Ethiopians were being deported each month up until March. A

A photograph of the conditions faced by migrants

Xenophobic Violence in South Africa, By Fatema Chandoo Xenophobic violence against foreign nationals has been a widespread and ongoing issue in South Africa since the early 2000s, with attacks recently sparking up to very high rates in 2019. There are approximately 3.2 million foreign nationals living in South Africa, 70% from the neighbouring countries of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, of which many live in fear of losing their homes and livelihoods to these attackers. The Gauteng province has the highest rates of attacks against foreign migrants - 212 incidences so far - with attacks mostly happening in large cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria. Since August 2019, at least 12 people have been killed and thousands have been displaced due to the mob violence, looting and destruction of foreign owned shops, homes and property. The source of these attacks lies in the high unemployment levels and the widespread view that foreigners are taking jobs from the locals, as well as foreigners being blamed for living conditions, economic insecurity and crimes. However, the instigators of these vicious attacks have rarely faced any penalties


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