DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — Stranded migrants at the Durban drive-in site are facing growing humanitarian challenges as new arrivals continue to pour into the facility seeking transportation, despite its official closure in late June. With the relocation process to Musina in Limpopo still ongoing, camp officials are urgently calling for more sponsors and resources to assist the vulnerable groups currently stranded at the location.
Although the drive-in site was officially shut down at the end of June, individuals lacking the funds to travel independently have continued to arrive at the premises. A site coordinator on the ground revealed that they have formally appealed for five buses to help clear the camp. Currently, the official has received assurance for one bus to transport women and some men. Additionally, another organization has expressed interest in assisting, potentially providing up to three more buses, though the coordinator expects to receive one or two.
The recent influx over the weekend and Monday morning comprises individuals from three different nationalities. According to a camp official, there were initially 70 Zimbabwean women present. After communicating with Zimbabwean authorities, buses were swiftly dispatched to repatriate them. The Zimbabwean nationals have since been loaded and shifted from the site, leaving primarily Malawian and Mozambican nationals behind.
For those remaining, conditions on the ground are increasingly dire. Because the drive-in site remains officially closed, those who arrived late are barred from entering the main premises. A migrant at the camp highlighted the urgent need for basic amenities, specifically requesting the provision of shelter and at least two portable toilets. The migrants reported sleeping on the hard floor without sheets or bedding, and lacking the funds to access public bathing or toilet facilities.
As aid workers scramble to provide relief, officials remain uncertain about when the ongoing relocation process to Musina in Limpopo will officially conclude. In the meantime, the call for sponsors and logistical support grows louder to ensure the safety and dignity of those waiting to be transported.
