Coronavirus: Horn of Africa nationals seek help in Israel

Text by: Guilhem Delteil Follow

In Israel, the unemployment rate has exploded since the beginning of March. The 31,000 nationals of the Horn of Africa are very affected. Their precarious legal status in the country excludes them from aid schemes. Their situation is even more difficult because the Israeli authorities automatically deduct part of their salary. Faced with the economic crisis, they demand that this money be returned to them.

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From our correspondent in Jerusalem,

The coronavirus pandemic is hurting the Israeli economy. The  unemployment rate is affected, because in the space of a few weeks, it has gone from 4 to 25% of the active population. And the 31,000 nationals of the Horn of Africa are among the most affected categories. They are not entitled to the assistance systems put in place.

Families close to expulsion, for lack of means

"  I no longer work. I stay at home, unemployed, moneyless,  ”says Fiori, a young mother from Eritrea, who lost her job with the coronavirus crisis. Like her, many Eritreans and Sudanese living legally in Israel have no income and find themselves in very difficult situations.

Mounim Haroun, a refugee from Darfur, describes a very alarming situation: “  We are contacted by families, individuals who tell us that they have nothing left to eat. And the owners are demanding rents from them. If they cannot pay their rent, they could end up on the street.  "

► Read also: Coronavirus in Israel: the beginning of a way out of the crisis

They claim reimbursement estimated at 74 million euros

This Wednesday, April 22, some came to protest in front of the Israeli Parliament. They are demanding that the government return a sum automatically deducted from their wages each month to encourage them to leave the country. “  The government of Israel has started to take 20% of their salaries since May 2017. This is 20% of an already very low income. The amount of this deposit is more than 285 million shekels  ”, explains Sigal Kook Havvi. According to this Israeli activist, almost 74 million euros are already in a bank account.

The measure would cost the government nothing, but the blockage is ideological, denounces Nitzan Horovitz leader of the left-wing party Meretz: "  This is a subject exploited by the far right to gain political profit. If there is no pressure, they will not do it.  "

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• Coronavirus
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