Gaza is being pushed into an abyss, says UN aid agency

Gaza is being pushed into an abyss, says UN aid agency

It is not clear at this stage just how many people are moving from the north of the Gaza Strip to the south but according to the UN relief agency which operates inside the territory, it is "an exodus".

Earlier UNRWA's director of communications, Juliette Touma, told the BBC: "This is the worst we've ever seen, This is hitting rock bottom. This is Gaza being pushed into an abyss, there is tragedy unfolding as the world is watching. This is Gaza.".

She added: "According to colleagues on the ground, there is an exodus. People are leaving. Those who can, with their cars, some are walking, some are carrying mattresses.

"People are terrified," she said. "Terrified."

Boko Haram to kill ALL South Africans in Nigeria if xenophobia doesn't end within 24 hours

Boko Haram has released a tape stating that they are giving South African government 24 hours within which to make the Xenophobic attacks come to an end, Face of Malawi reported.

If South African government does not contain the situation they will execute all South Africans living in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and other surrounding countries, even the South African Embassies in the African countries.

Boko Haram is a militant group in northeastern Nigeria whose real name is 'Jama'at Ahl al-Sunna li al-Da'awat wa al-Jihad' which means Sunni Group for Preaching and Jihad. The group was founded around 2002, largely to preach an Islamist ideology based on the doctrines of the Taliban as well as groups such as al-Qaeda.

It sought to disassociate itself from the Nigerian state and form a community only of its followers. Boko Haram has abducted over 2,000 young girls and very few have escaped. So dangerous and heartless is the group that tens of thousands of people have been killed in Nigeria by Boko Haram.

Amnesty has documented several of these attacks, including the raid of Baga town on January 3rd, 2015 when 2,000 people were killed and the attack on Bama in March where an estimated 5900 people were killed.

While Boko Haram has no mercy on fellow Nigerians, the group however will not permit other nationals to mess up with their brothers and sisters in xenophobic attacks.

The Zulu king has been accused of fuelling the violence. He denies this. Many jobless South Africans accuse foreigners of taking jobs in a country where the unemployment rate is 24%.

Following recent reports of attacks on non-indigenes residing in South Africa, especially Nigerians, the Nigerian Youths Congress (NYC) has called on the South African authorities to immediately halt the ongoing xenophobic attacks in their territories or have their nationals in Nigeria subjected to similar treatment.

The warning by NYC is in response to disheartening videos making the rounds which showed South African locals attacking and burning foreigners (Nigerians inclusive) alive, and in some instances, looting their shops.

Reacting to the incident, the president, NYC, Comrade Yakubu Shendam, who expressed dismay at the heinous act, regretted that South African authorities are silent on such callous acts perpetrated against a people who have contributed largely to their economic growth.

He said it was ingratitude and sheer act of wickedness for any South African national to contemplate harming foreigners, particularly Nigerians who stood behind them during their trying moments.

He said, "South African citizens are scattered around Nigeria excelling in various businesses and are being protected by the government. In telecommunications alone, what South Africans make from Nigeria is unimaginable.

"If the Nigerian government and people can provide the enabling environment for South Africans to thrive and in turn, her citizens are being maimed and killed for being foreigners, Nigerian youths may be compelled to mete out similar treatment to South Africans operating in the country".

To prove that there are thousands of South Africans in Nigeria, last year 94 South Africans died when Prophet TB Joshua's church collapsed. Every week hundreds of South Africans visit Prophet TB Joshua's church and Pastor Chris' church in a bid to seek divine intervention.

REVENGE IS SOUR: South Africans working in Mozambique flee xenophobic attacks

South African engineers working on mines and at a gas plant in Mozambique have been taken to secure camps after threats of xenophobic attacks revenge in Mozambique.

They were evacuated from their workplaces as several countries begin demanding answers from the South African government about the attacks on their citizens.

Mozambicans, Malawians, Zimbabweans, Somalis and Congolese nationals have borne the brunt of xenophobic violence, which broke out in Durban three weeks ago before spreading to Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg.

At least five people have been killed and thousands displaced in a surge of violence and looting.

The South African high commissioner to Malawi was summoned yesterday to a meeting by that country's ministry of foreign affairs, concerned about the safety of its nationals in South Africa.

International Relations Department spokesman Nelson Kgwete confirmed the meeting and said African ambassadors would meet today to voice their concerns.

Sasol spokesman Alex Anderson said work had stopped at its gas plant in Inhambane, Mozambique after fears that South African staff would be attacked.

SMSes were sent to Mozambicans telling them not to shop in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, because it was dangerous.

Several sources told The Times that South African companies Kentz Engineering and DRA Engineering had evacuated staff from coal mines in Tete in Mozambique.

Paul Youens, commenting on behalf of Kentz said: "The safety and security of our employees is paramount and we already have plans in place to mitigate any risks to our project teams."

While DRA Engineering did not respond to calls, a source at a Tete mine said: "The moment management heard of the threats, which for now are verbal, all South Africans were evacuated. They have been moved to secure camps.

"Just as South Africans are upset that foreigners are getting work in South Africa, Mozambicans are too," said the source.

Mozambique Media Online reported a "bad environment" between Mozambican and South African workers in Tete and Inhambane, with South Africans leaving various work sites.

Anderson said Sasol was "taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all personnel".

Mozambican public broadcaster TVM told The Times that videos were circulating showing the expulsion of South Africans from various sites in Mozambique. They said Mozambican workers at the Sasol plant had downed tools, refusing to work until all their South African colleagues had left the plant.

"It's a form of retaliation by the Mozambicans," TVM said.

In Nigeria, calls have been made for the government to demand that its South African counterparts halt the violence.

PMNews, an online publication, said Nigerians were demanding that the xenophobic attacks stop within 48 hours or South African companies in Nigeria would be closed. Nigeria's newly elected All Progressive Congress has handed a memorandum to the South African embassy in Lagos.

SABC news reported that musician Kelly Khumalo has been forced to cancel performances in Manchester and Coventry after threats by Africans to disrupt her concerts in the two British cities over the xenophobic attacks.

Kwaito group Big Nuz has cancelled its scheduled performance in Zimbabwe, citing fears of victimisation.

The Human Rights Consultative Committee, a network of 97 human rights NGOs in Malawi, said it was demanding a summit of Southern African Development Community heads of government. It called for compensation for those attacked.

The violence continued to spread in Gauteng, despite President Jacob Zuma condemning the attacks yesterday.

He said 350 soldiers had been deployed as immigration officers at border posts and military personnel had been posted at the borders of seven provinces to prevent crime there.

By late last night dozens of foreigners in Actonville on the East Rand had been chased from their homes as roads were blocked and cars stoned. South Africans hunting for foreigners in Actonville told The Times that Zuma could "go to hell" for loving amakwerekwere [foreigners]. "Does he [Zuma] feed us? Does he give us jobs? Does he love us like he loves his amakwerekwere? No, he does not. He treats us worse than foreigners," said Witness Masela.

"We pay our taxes but have no jobs. These foreigners don't pay taxes but they have jobs. Zuma mustn't come to us and speak nice. He must go to hell," he said.

Xenophobia: Nigeria Reps vow to invoke laws to frustrate S/African interests

ABUJA—The House of Representatives yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to recall Nigeria’s envoy to South Africa over xenophobic attacks on foreigners.

The lawmakers also vowed to invoke relevant business laws to frustrate South African concerns in Nigeria.

However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, said yesterday that Nigeria was closely monitoring the attacks on foreigners in South Africa and would take appropriate measures if the lives of Nigerians were at risk.

The Reps’ move was sequel to a motion promoted by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, APC, Lagos, entitled: ‘Xenophobic Attacks on Africans in South Africa’.

In her submission, the Lagos lawmaker argued that the House was disturbed at the constant, unwarranted Zenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa, where Africans in South Africa were being slaughtered like animals.

She said: “The recent attacks which have left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised, many beaten up mercilessly, was incited by a statement allegedly made by South African Zulu King, Goodwill. Zwelithini, who told African migrants to go home as they were no longer welcome in South Africa.

“Son of President Zuma, Edward, allegedly echoed the same statement which ignited a long debate and worse still immediate backlash of violent reactions among the Zulus in Kwazulu, who unleashed terror on foreigners including Nigerians in J’bourg, Durban and Pretoria.

“They steal, break into their homes, businesses, take their properties, killing them, 5 have been killed with hundreds stranded and unable to return.

“Recall that a similar incident happened in January this year in which 4 people died during the looting of shops owned by foreigners and also a similar incident occurred in 2002 with about 60 African migrants killed including Zimbabweans , Mozambiqueans, Congolese and Malawians.’’

At this point, Friday Itulah, PDP, Edo, sought for an amendment to reflect that”the Nigerian ambassador to South Africa should be recalled immediately for further consultations and we should sever all diplomatic ties with the troubled country.”

Leo Ogor, PDP Isoko federal constituency also spoke in the same vein, commending the “efforts of the sponsor of the motion which to me is timely and needed to be treated with urgency.”

In his contribution, Ahmed Datti, APC, Kaduna, said: “I was surprised that one of their major companies here has increased tariff yet they are killing people in their country.

“We should invoke all our relevant laws to ensure that it is no longer business as usual for their business concerns in Nigeria.”

When the presiding officer, Aminu Tambuwal put the proposed amendment to vote, referring to the first leg as the recall of the envoy, the ays had it.

The second amendment seeking an outright severing diplomatic ties with SA was killed by the lawmakers.

Rounding off, Dabiri-Erewa said Nigeria frowned on the attacks and would no longer tolerate the killing of its nationals in South Africa.

She asked President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately convey this to President Zuma as a matter of urgency.

The lawmakers also appealed to the federal government to apply the diplomatic principle of reciprocity in dealing with South Africa, adding that if South Africa continued to frustrate Nigeria businesses, Nigeria must also do the same to South Africa businesses in the country.

When the speaker finally put the debate to a voice, the ays carried the day.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has said Nigeria was closely monitoring the attacks on foreigners in South Africa and would take appropriate measures if the lives of Nigerians were at risk.

Addressing State House correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, Ambassador Wali said the attacks were not targeted at Nigerians only but foreigners, adding that the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria had taken steps to ensure that the lives and properties of Nigerians were protected.

According to the Minister, information at his disposal indicates that no Nigerian has so far been affected by the attacks.

“With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian has so far been affected. They informed me that they have called the Nigerian community and addressed them and told them to close their shops, stay at home and keep out of trouble and obey the laws of South Africa.

“They have also confirmed that the South African authorities have moved in to take actions that would forestall any further disturbance in South Africa.

“If it gets worse it is the duty of our country to make sure our people are brought back, and we are taking that duty serious.

“We are not prepared to allow any of our nationals to be subjected to such inhuman treatment,” he said.

He defended the stance of government saying that Nigerians were not being targeted in the orgy of violence that has so far gripped the country.

“We are not being reactionary because this is happening to all foreigners, not Nigerians alone. We are monitoring the situation and will take action according to the situation that develops,” he said.

Source - Vanguard NG

Zulu King Zwelithini: I won't apologise!

KING Goodwill Zwelithini meant each and every word when he said foreigners must pack their bags and get out of South Africa.

So said Zwelithini’s spokesman, Prince Thulani Zulu, who told Daily Sun yesterday the king has nothing to be sorry for.

The Zulu king’s outburst came on Saturday during his speech at a moral regeneration event in Pongola, northern KZN.

In the presence of both Police Minister Nathi Nhleko and provincial MEC Willies Mchunu, the king was reported to have told the gathering that it was time foreigners were told to return to their countries.

The king accused them of messing up the country’s towns by hanging their fake clothing brands on the streets.

“Now when you walk down the street you can’t recognise a shop you used to know because it has been taken over by foreigners who mess it up by hanging up rags,” the king said.

His remarks were widely condemned as encouraging hatred towards foreigners, which may result in more violent behaviour towards them.

But Prince Thulani said the king won’t apologise because he stood by what he said.

“I think the people who’re complaining are misinterpreting his speech.

“He didn’t say foreigners must be attacked or harassed.

“The king was talking about foreigners who are here illegally.

“Some are involved in serious crimes like drug and human trafficking.

“We don’t need such people in our country so the king is right,” said Zulu.

The king’s speech has been strongly criticised for fuelling hatred against foreigners by the Somali Association of South Africa and the Congolese Solidarity Campaign.

The provincial government distanced itself from the king’s speech. It said it was guided by the Constitution, which guarantees human rights for all in SA.

Statue of naked President Jacob Zuma of South Africa erected, quickly destroyed [PICTURES]

Cape Town - Amid the heated debate around public art in Cape Town – and the fall of the Cecil John Rhodes statue at the University of Cape Town – a mysterious bronze statue resembling President Jacob Zuma was erected on Lion’s Head over the weekend and quickly destroyed.

The statue, titled The Swordsman of the Nation, was placed on top of the popular tourist destination with an inscription scribbled on its base.

It read: “If a criminal like this can get a statue, so can I – JZ.” It is unclear whether the ‘criminal’ referred to is Cecil John Rhodes or President Jacob Zuma - or both.

The statue, which depicts a short, fat, naked character, was erected with a large sex toy in its hand, evoking the controversy around artist Brett Murray’s painting, The Spear.

By the end of the weekend the statue had been cut in half.

Twitter was abuzz with discussions around the statue, with nobody able to say who made it, or who destroyed it. Some people supported the response to the #RhodesMustFall campaign, while others called it “distasteful” and “stupid”.

From pictures taken at Lion’s Head, it seems many were simply unbothered by the statue.

Hikers are pictured sitting next to it, and one group even set up a water station in front of it.

FOUND! The lost tomb of Jesus.

The lost tomb of Jesus? Scientist claims he has 'virtually unequivocal evidence' that could help explain the whereabouts of Christ's remains

A geologist in Jerusalem claims to have found “virtually unequivocal evidence” that could reopen the controversy over the final resting place of Jesus Christ.

Dr Aryeh Shimron says he has carried out new tests that suggest it is more likely the Talpiot Tomb, a burial site found in East Jerusalem in 1980, was a family grave for Jesus of Nazareth, his wife Mary Magdalene and his son Judah.

Dubbed “The Lost Tomb of Jesus” in a 2007 documentary movie directed by James Cameron, the chamber contained nine burial boxes or “ossuaries” inscribed with the names “Jesus son of Joseph”, “Mary” and other names associated with the New Testament.

The inscriptions and the approximate dates of burial have led some to suggest the Talpiot Tomb means Jesus married, that he fathered a child, and that the existence of bodily remains means the Resurrection could never have happened.


The controversial claims were refuted on a variety of grounds at the time of the film’s broadcast – not least on the basis that the names were all relatively common at the time.

Yet speaking to the New York Times, Dr Shimron has said that geochemical tests on a 10th ossuary make it highly likely the box was recently removed from among the others in the Talpiot Tomb.

That’s significant because the Aramaic inscription on the 10th ossuary reads “James son of Joseph brother of Jesus” – adding weight to the suggestions that the names are those of Jesus Christ and his family.

“The evidence is beyond what I expected,” Dr Shimron said. “I think I’ve got really powerful, virtually unequivocal evidence that the James ossuary spent most of its lifetime, or death time, in the Talpiot Tomb.”

The geochemical tests, carried out under Dr Shimron’s supervision largely by the Israel Antiquities Authority, worked on the basis that the ossuaries in the Talpiot Tomb were all once covered by the same clay with a very distinctive mineral make-up.

While the results are likely to rekindle the debate surrounding the possible remains of Jesus, they are still far from accepted in scientific circles. The collector who owns the James ossuary told the Times Dr Shimron’s work determines nothing “conclusively”, while other Jerusalem archaeologists say they await its publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

REVEALED: "Aisha Buhari Mistakenly Voted For PDP” – INEC

There was confusion in Katsina state after the Wife of General Muhammadu Buhari mistakenly placed her thumb on the PDP slot instead of the APC slot, in the process voting Goodluck Jonathan for President.

All attempts to rectify it have fallen on deaf ears as INEC insist she will not get any extra ballot paper.

Mrs Buhari claims A PDP agent pushed her just as she was about to thumb print on her ballot paper, resulting in her voting PDP.

As at Press Time she is still weeping uncontrollably.

PDP. Warns against under-aged voters

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the poor working of the Permanent Voter Card readers in Saturday's Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country could have been avoided if INEC had listened to sound advice from well meaning individuals and organizations including the PDP regarding their deployment without proper testing.

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Saturday said the last minute resort to manual accreditation by INEC hours into the exercise against its earlier guidelines clearly shows the failure of the system.

"The unfortunate development is a vindication of our earlier position that as good as the idea of card readers is, it was too virgin to be successfully used in a general election without proper testing especially in an environment as ours that is not entirely digitally proficient”, it said.

The party described as a huge national embarrassment the that the card reader had problems in accrediting President Goodluck Jonathan, Governors Jonah Jang, of Plateau, James Ngilari of Adamawa, Isa Yuguda of Buachi among others and called for thorough explanation from INEC.

The PDP equally frowned at reported cases of accreditation of under-aged persons in some states especially in the northern part of the country and called on INEC not only to ensure that such unqualified persons are not allowed to vote but also to prosecute its officials involved in the crime.

The ruling party said it is seriously concerned about the developments given the avowed commitment of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration to hitch-free, fair and credible electoral process.

It charged the electoral commission to take urgent steps within the law to ensure that no willing and qualified voter is disenfranchised, while urging Nigerians to remain calm in the overall interest of the nation.

Corrupt Gov’t Worse Than Arm Robbery - Buhari

Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has said that a bad and a corrupt government is a national disaster than robbery.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said that a currupt government is worse than armed robbery.

“I believe that a bad and corrupt government is a much danger to national security as armed robbers, kidnappers and terrorists. I want to commend our armed forces for their recent successes over the Boko Haram.” Buhari said.

He spoke at an APC’s Town Hall meeting on security, held at the Barcelona Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday.

He explained that by his training and experience, the concept of security must be holistic.


According to him, it goes beyond having the best Police Force and the military; it involves sound economic management which includes zero tolerance for corruption as well as leadership by example.

The ex-military ruler stressed that the safety and welfare of all citizens which he said was the primary purpose of government anywhere in the world, could be better pursued and achieved when the right government is in place.

Buhari said, “The total security concept reflects directly on improving the quality of the lives of our people and rebuilding the economy.
“Even if we have the best police, we will not be able to guarantee total security as long as 53 per cent of our youths remain unemployed and 70 per cent of our people are living below the poverty line.

“These are all the issues that my party and myself are committed to. It is along this line that we have promised a regretting plan for the North East of Nigeria. It is based on ensuring that never again will our country experience the type of human tragedy currently going on in that part of the country.”

He explained that during his short stint as military head of state, he increased Nigeria’s refineries from one with a capacity to refine 50,000 barrel per day to four with refining capacity of 450,000 barrel per day without borrowing a single kobo from anywhere.

The APC presidential candidate also explained how he resisted foreign and domestic pressures to devalue the Naira and remove subsidy on petroleum products in December 1983.

He challenged anybody who had contrary information about this to come out and tell Nigerians.


Source: The Punch