Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Mozambican Miners Return to South Africa as COVID-19 Blockade Lifts

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The International Organization for Migration
   reports South Africa has lifted its COVID-19 blockade, allowing
   thousands of Mozambican miners to cross the border and return to work.

   Borders between South Africa and Mozambique have been closed since
   March. This has created economic hardships for the families of an
   estimated 28,000 Mozambican miners. They have been unable to cross the
   border to work in South Africa and send remittances to support their
   families.

   Spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, Paul Dillon
   told VOA an agreement worked out between the two countries will allow
   migrants who are properly screened for the coronavirus to resume work
   in South Africa.

   "The screening is conducted by the hiring agency and when they are
   screened as virus free, they are then taken into South Africa and
   quarantined there by the hiring agency for 14 days," he said.

   Dillon said a first group of 500 miners has gone through the process
   and received health checks at an IOM-operated cross-border Occupational
   Health Center. The center was originally set up to improve the early
   diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, a condition which
   disproportionately affects mine workers.

.