Call loved ones programme launched at refugee camp

MALINDZA - A new programme that will enable refugees at Malindza refugee camp to call their loved ones back home has been launched by the Baphalali Swaziland Red cross Society.

The organisation, in partnership with its partner the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), launched the programme last Friday at Malindza refugee camp in front of excited members of the refugee community.

Speaking at the launch, President of the Swaziland Red Cross Society Happy Dlamini said the programme would run for three months as it was still under a pilot stage. She, however, expressed optimism that the programme would continue after the three month period had elapsed.
“Through assistance from ICRC, refugees in the camp will now be assisted to locate and further call their families back home.

Restoring

“This is part of our programme called Restoring Family Links which primarily focusses on uniting families by restoring contacts between family members,” she said.
She further explained that a call centre had already been established at the centre and that volunteers had already been trained on how to operate the call centre.
Dlamini further told the gathering that the organisation was pleased to be part of the programme saying reuniting a person with his/her family is the greatest gift that one can give to any person.
“Being away from your loved ones causes sickness. You can die emotionally and spiritually just because you are away from your family,” she stressed.

Sabrinna Denuncq, a representative from ICRC, said it was not the first time that the organisation had assisted people to reunite with their families by making phone calls.
She said, by a phone call, the lives of many refugees at the camp would be transformed and that hope would be restored in them.

Promised

Denuncq then promised that the ICRC was hoping to continue supporting the programme as it was important for refugees to be carefully looked after.
Meanwhile, a Red Cross official explained that the refugees would be divided according to their nationalities.
“If Monday, it’s a day for the Somalis, they will all be afforded three minutes each to call home,” he said.

On another note, during the launch, nine refugees were made to call their loved ones back home in front of the dignitaries.
After calling home, Mouge Dahir Omar from Sudan said he was feeling much better after talking to his children.

Gaspard Gahigi from Rwanda said he had not spoken to his wife and children for the past 10 months.
“I have since spoken to my wife and she told me that she was safe with the children in Malawi,” he said through an interpreter.

Parliament to pass amended refugee bill

MALINDZA - As means of improving the country’s commitment to providing better stay for refugees in the country, parliament is expected to pass the Amended Refugee Bill.

This was said by Arnold Dlamini, the Under Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, a department which deals with refugee issues.
Dlamini was the key note speaker during the launch of a call loved ones programme for refugees at the Malindza refugee camp last Friday.
He told the gathering that the Refugee Amended Bill was already before parliament, but said it would be passed by the 10th parliament which is still to be elected.

He said the country has already showed commitment to providing a better stay for refugees by rectifying and domesticating refugee conventions and that by passing the bill, the country would be emphasising its commitment to the protection of refugees.

“Red Cross today has set the tone on how refugees should be treated in any destination globally. Providing a communication tool will enable Malindza refugees an opportunity impart or interchange thoughts, opinions, or information through telephone communication,” he said.
Dlamini then urged refugees at the camp to respect all regulations set up for the programme saying the continuation of the programme solely depended on how it is managed.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: