Dukwi refugees face starvation as food runs out
He explained these challenges occurred on the backdrop of budgetary constraints exacerbated by global inflationary pressures, the unprecedented expenditure towards Covid-19 recovery measures and climate change.
“While we have not been able to fully augment rations, government has put measures in place to ensure that provisions are available to the most vulnerable individuals,” he said.
However, a concerned source who spoke to The Voice on condition of anonymity accused the minister of downplaying the food shortage scenario.
“It’s worse than that. There’s no food in Dukwi. People last got rations around March,” they said.
The source further told The Voice the ministry went into panic mode last week when the health of an Egyptian asylum seeker, who has been on hunger strike for over a week, deteriorated drastically.
The Egyptian was apparently appalled by the lack of welfare in the camp.
“The dehumasing environment sent him into depression,” revealed the source.
“They were worried that he’d die, that’s when they involved the police and nurses. His death would
have exposed the real situation in Dukwi, and embarrassed Shamukuni and his team in Geneva.”
The source further said, to save face, awarding of a tender for the supply and delivery of food hampers to Dukwi Refugee Camp was expedited and regulations flouted as government raced against time to deliver food to refuges before the news reached the international community.
A questionnaire was sent to the ministry through the Chief Public Relations Officer, Oteng Mokowe, on Monday. Despite acknowledging receipt on Tuesday, and a follow-up made on Wednesday morning, the ministry was yet to respond at the time of going to print.
Similarly, UNHCR promised to get back to The Voice after we contacted them on Wednesday; we eagerly await both responses…