Church officials: South Africa unprepared to help Zimbabwean refugees

Published: 2007-03-20

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- South Africa is unprepared to meet the needs of thousands of people fleeing political and economic problems in neighboring Zimbabwe, Catholic officials in South Africa said. "Every day more and more people seek our help, and the blankets and food that we distribute are quickly used up," said Pierre Matate, coordinator of projects for Emmanuel Cathedral Parish in the Durban Archdiocese and the head of Durban's refugee services. Matate, who was a political refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, called on South African churches to open their halls at night to give Zimbabweans shelter. "This is a crisis situation, and they (Zimbabweans) are traumatized," Matate told Catholic News Service March 16 in a telephone interview from Durban. "If we could provide them with a place to sleep for awhile, it would give them the peace of mind they need to get on their feet again," he said.

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