Some 38,000 Malawians have fled South Africa and the anti-migrant campaign.

Malawi said on Friday it had repatriated 38,000 nationals in one month from South Africa, bringing to more than 60,000 the number of foreigners who have fled that country because of a virulent anti-migrant campaign.

Nationals from Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Kenya, the vast majority of whom are in an irregular situation, have decided to leave South Africa since May and the rise of a campaign calling for the departure of all undocumented immigrants.

At least four people have been killed in the violence that accompanied this campaign—two Mozambicans, a Malawian, and an Ethiopian—according to South African police. This new wave of xenophobia in South Africa has also been marked by looting and arson attacks on shops owned by migrants.

In its latest report, the Malawian disaster management agency recorded 38,094 nationals repatriated from South Africa between June 7 and July 8.

Six people died from illness or lack of access to medical care during the long journey back to their country of origin, the same source said. Four died during the journey and two shortly after returning to Malawi, and all had pre-existing health conditions when they began their trip, the agency's head, Wilson Moleni, told AFP.

"Nevertheless, because they were chased away and moved from one place to another, they did not have access to their medicines or to hospital care," he stressed.

"Some spent time in camps in South Africa, which worsened their health."

More than 570 buses were chartered for this large-scale repatriation.

Malawians make up the majority of the approximately 46,000 migrants who have crossed the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe since June 7, with Zimbabweans representing the second largest contingent, South African immigration services told AFP.

Approximately 1,000 Ghanaians and 500 Nigerians were repatriated on flights chartered by their government from Johannesburg, said the head of the South African Border Management Authority (BMA), Michael Masiapato.

"In total, we can say that approximately 60,000 people were repatriated or expelled during this period," he summarized.

The Zimbabwean government indicated on Thursday that it had facilitated the return of 21,300 of its citizens since the end of May.

More than 1,000 Ugandans have also been repatriated, according to Kampala, as well as hundreds of Mozambicans.

AFP