The delegation focused primarily on the plight of refugees from Zimbabwe and the affect of their exodus on South Africa. South Africa and Zimbabwe are destination countries for refugees from various regions of Africa, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan.

Many of these refugees travel large distances to South Africa in the hope of finding security and employment. Others make it to Zimbabwe and end up in refugee camps, unable to find safety or employment. The delegation met with several refugees from these areas, including vulnerable women and children, and observed with concern large numbers of unaccompanied children, lack of adequate shelter, food and health care for refugees, limited potential for integration and high risk of human trafficking.

• The mission report presents a number of recommendations that could be taken to address the plight of Zimbabweans and other refugees in southern Africa:
• Increase government assistance to NGOs providing aid to Zimbabwean displaced persons
• Increase resettlement of vulnerable refugees from South Africa and Zimbabwe
• Establish best interest determinations for unaccompanied children living in the refugee camps
• Increase food, shelter and health care support to refugees, especially the most vulnerable
• Increase law enforcement against human traffickers and launch a public relations campaign to prevent human trafficking from increasing during the World Cup games in 2010.

The delegation strongly urges the United States government, the South African government, the United Nations and the international community to engage the Zimbabwean refugee situation more vigorously and to provide them with protection and durable solutions. Over the long-term, the international community must work for the political and economic stability in Zimbabwe, so that millions of Zimbabweans can return to their country to help rebuild it.

The USCCB is a member of the International Catholic Migration Commission. The full USCCB Zimbabwe and South Africa Mission Trip Report can be downloaded below, or accessed directly from the USCCB/Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) website: www.usccb.org/mrs<.

Zimbabwe and South Africa mission trip report (417.97 KB)