DFA raises Alert Level 1 in South Africa

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised Crisis Alert Level 1 in South Africa due to recent attacks against immigrants there.
 
In a statement issued Wednesday, the DFA said: "Alert Level 1 is raised when there are valid signs of internal disturbance, instability, or external threat to the host country." 
There are around 900 Filipinos in South Africa, working mostly as engineers and teachers.
 
Manila will not be enforcing any travel restrictions for Filipino tourists and workers under alert level 1, the DFA added. 
It also condemned the recent wave of violence against immigrants, which led to the arrest of 307 people and the deaths of seven others.
 
"The Philippines condemns the wave of violence aimed at foreign workers and joins the South African government and the international community in denouncing the aggression directed against foreigners during these three weeks of unrest, which has resulted in loss of lives and has divided communities," the DFA said.
 
 
Job shortage and lack of economic progress often made immigrants the target of anger among South Africans.
 
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said most victims are refugees from war-torn countries.
 
King Goodwill Zwelithini, traditional leader of the ethnic group Zulu, was blamed for jump-starting the attacks against foreigners during a speech wherein he blamed foreigners for South Africa's high crime rate last month.
 
But Zwelthini claims his speech had been misinterpreted. — with Michaela del Callar/RSJ, GMA News

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