The anti-foreigner violence,
which erupted in the eastern port city of Durban, has left at least six
people dead and spread to the economic hub, Johannesburg.
"In
South Africa, xenophobic attacks over the last three weeks have...
displaced over 5,000 foreign nationals," the UN refugee agency said,
adding it was "extremely concerned".
"We
would like to underscore that those affected in these xenophobic
attacks are refugees and asylum seekers who were forced to leave their
countries due to war and persecution," the UNHCR said.
Foreigners who have fled their homes are sheltering in makeshift camps.
Neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique announced plans to evacuate their citizens, as the violence drew regional outrage.
Zimbabwe's ambassador to
South Africa, Isaac Moyo said the repatriation of about 1,000
Zimbabweans from Durban would start on Sunday.
In the Zimbabwean
capital Harare, demonstrators marched to the South African embassy to
condemn what they called the "senseless and gruesome slaughter" of
fellow Africans.
In
Mozambique, a group of about 200 on Friday blockaded the southern
Lebombo border with South Africa, stoning South African vehicles.
"The
demonstrators blocked the road for half an hour, refusing to allow cars
with South African registration plates to pass," Moamba district police
commander Alfonso Rocco told AFP.
- South African gigs cancelled -
In Zambia, a privately-owned radio station has stopped playing South African music in protest against the xenophobic attacks.
"Radio
QFM has blacked out the playing of South African music effective today,
April 17th in protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals
taking place in that country," QFM managing director Asan Nyama said in a
statement posted on the station's website.
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