BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – Government has offered refugees living in the kingdom of Eswatini
a jab of COVID-19 vaccine.
This was announced by Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe yesterday
during the commemoration of the World Refugee Day.
The minister stated that government is committed to providing health services,
medicines, vaccines and education to refugees. She said as a result, refugees will
receive the COVID-19 jab once sufficient vaccines arrive in the country.
“In a world where violence forces thousands to flee for their lives everyday, it is
the right time to show that as Government & the public we all stand with
refugees,” she said.
She continued: “The greatest game changer is education. We encourage and
support the creation of scholarships and education opportunities for displaced
persons and greater access to digital education for refugee students.”
The minister further disclosed that the Kingdom has recorded remarkable stories of
refugees that are making a mark in education, some of whom are currently
studying towards advanced qualifications including PhD degrees. She said
Emaswati all benefit when everyone has access to education.
She further announced that plans to simplify the Refugee Status Determination
would soon become a reality as training of officials and members of statutory
bodies had begun. “This is being done through the support of the United Nations High Commission
for Refugees (UNHCR),” she said.
