An estimated 25,000 Zimbabweans are heading for Zambia as they flee anti-immigrant violence in South Africa with thousands of others leaving for Mozambique and Botswana, the Red Cross said Monday.
"In Zambia, our teams are expecting the arrival of 25,000 Zimbabweans, or 5,000 families," said Francoise Le Goff, Red Cross director for Southern Africa.
"At least 5,500 Zimbabweans have had assistance to Mozambique," she said, adding that 342 had been received in centers near the border with Botswana.
Anti-immigrant violence has raged in South Africa over the last two weeks, leaving 56 dead and an estimated 35,000 displaced internally.
Authorities in Mozambique have said about 26,000 citizens have returned home since the violence began on May 11.
About 3 million Zimbabweans are believed to have fled their country to seek work in South Africa.
They and other foreigners are being blamed by locals in poor slum areas for unemployment and high crime.
Source:Xinhua
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